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ELIZABETH   R.   HILL, 

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IN 


WORCESTER  COUNTY, 


MASS. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  on  the  27th  day  of  November,  in  the  year  1877, 
by  Elizabeth  R.  Hill,  in  the  Office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  in  Washington. 


NORTH  BROOKFIELD,  MASS.,  RAILROAD 

ORGANIZATION. 


The  Town's  Illegal,  Association — Incidents  of  Shakp  Prac- 
tice by  the  Directors  op  the  North  Brookfield  Railroad  Com- 
pany in  Assessing  Land  Damage,  Surveyed  and  Set  Off  as  the 
most  Feasible  Route  for  Men  dolng  Business  ln  North 
Brookfield — The  delay  of  the  County  Commissioners  tn  com- 
plying with  Statute  Requirements  —  The  Ignoring  of  Mrs. 
E.  R.  Hill,  Petitioner  for  disinterested  Appraisers  upon 
said  Land  Surveyed  by  said  Railroad. 


Mrs.  Hill  demanded  in  writing,  three  different  times,  to 
the  President  and  Directors  of  said  railroad  organization, 
for  qualified  appraisers  upon  the  estate  of  which  she  was 
legally  seized,  which  said  surveyed  railroad  route 
cut  through  from  north-west  to  south-east,  and  the  only  sat- 
isfaction for  her  prayers  was  "  we  shall  not  comply  with 
your  request  and  shall  not  assess  your  damage  until  after  all 
others,"ttc  They  evidently  determined  to  locate  and  build  said 
road  in  accordance  with  their  own  wishes,  law  or  no  law,  and 
to  suppress  at  all  hazards  whoever  should  dare  to  vindicate 
their  rights  in  accordance  with  the  Revised  Statutes.  And  as 
their  designs  and  purposes  have  been  accomplished  without 
much  notoriety  or  explanation,  and  as  settlement  upon  all 
^V  laud  damage  claimants  has  been  effected,  except  said  E.  R. 
Hill,  for  whose  land,  and  character,  and  all,  their  thirst 
must  have  satiety ;  their  direful  hate  and  plotting  against 
her  because  of  her  knowledge  of  their  illegal  proceedings, 
demonstration  of  which  will  be  given  in  this  book  wrhich  I 
am  compelled  to  issue  that  I  may  have  a  chance  for  legal 


4 

vindication  that  bribery  may  not  suppress.  Siinms,  the  fu- 
gitive in  Boston,  was  not  more  a  fugitive  than  is  said  E.  K. 
Hill  to-day.  Driven  from  her  own  quiet  cottage  by  this 
ruthless  throng,  who  have  stopped  the  improvements  being 
made  upon  her  own  real  estate  which  is  largely  her's  from  her 
father  in  whose  name  it  has  been  for  more  than  three  quar- 
ters of  a  century.  Said  real  estate  being  located  so  near  the 
village,  hundreds  that  work  in  the  "  big  shop  "  and  out,  have 
wished  I  was  compelled  to  give  it  to  them,  or  obliged  to  sell 
it,  and  said  "  if  it  can't  be  got  by  fair,  it  must  by  foul  means 
from  her,"  &c. 

Said  E.  R.  Hill,  being  at  this  notable  era  correspondent 
to  the  Springfield  Daily  Union,  was  therefore  present  at  all 
of  the  public  town  meetings.  I  will  here*  announce  to  the 
reader  that  I  am  not  a  woman  suffragist,  but  am  for  wom- 
an's virtue,  character  and  common  sense,  which  will  vindicate 
truth,  justice  and  mercy — that  will  do  all  in  the  power  of 
her  might  to  suppress  this  false,  glittering  life,  which  is 
bringing  so  much  ruin  on  cur  nation. 

Alden  Bacheller,  T.  C.  Bates,  and  others,  drew  up  and  or- 
ganized through  a  series  of  blunders,  a  railroad  company, 
calling  upon  the  town  of  North  Brookfield,  Mass..  to  take 
action  upon  the  subject  of  building  a  railroad  between  North 
Brookfield  and  East  Brookfield.  On  the  26th  day  of  Decem- 
^--ber  1874,  a  warrant  was  issued  in  the  name  of  the*  Common- 
wealth of  Massachusetts,  notifying  the  inhabitants  of  the 
town  of  North  Brookfield,  qualified  to  vote  in  town  affairs,  to 
meet  at  the  town  hall  on  Saturday,  the  2d  day  of  January 
next,  at  7  o'clock  P.  M.,  then  and  there  to  act  on  the  follow- 
ing articles: 

Article  2.  To  see  if  the  town  will  vote  to  become  an  as- 
sociate for  the  formation  of  a  Railroad  corporation,  formed 
for  the  purpose  of  building  a  railroad  from  North  Brookfield 
village  to  East  Brookfield. 

Article  3.  To  see  what  action  the  town  will  take  in  re- 
gard to  voting  to  raise  money  to  aid  in  building  a  railroad  to 
East  Brookfield  and  act  thereon. 

The  town  meeting  was  held  under  the  above  warrant  Jan- 
uary 2d,  1875,  when  Augustus  £>mith  was  voted  moderator. 


Motion  by  E.  Hill,  seconded  by  John  Hill,  to  pass  over  arti- 
cle 2  ;  expression  of  opinions,  pro  and  con,  as  to  whether  the 
motion  opened  the  whole  subject  of  a  railroad  for  discussion. 
Thus  they  argued  sharp  and  fiery.  F.  Walker  related  his 
interview  with  the  President  of  the  B.  &  A.  railroad  by  him- 
self; A.  Bacheller  exhibited  a  draft  of  the  B.  A.  &  Ware 
River,  and  the  proposed  Worcester  Co.  Central,  aiming  upon 
the  four  miles  between  No^th  and  East  Brookfield,  advocat- 
ing the  immediate  building  of  a  railroad  to  East 
Brookfield ;  John  Hill  argued  for  grades ;  J.  F.  He- 
bard  wanted  this  vote  decided,  that  something  might  be  done 
more  to  the  point  at  issue  ;  it  was  voted  not  to  pass  over 
the  article.  Thus  meal  bags  and  sleepers  were  hurled  by 
the  tongue  with  savage  ferocity,  till  it  was  a  question  in  the 
minds  of  some,  which  of  the  two  proprietors  would,  first  go 
out  and  hang  himself.  T.  C.  Bates,  with  his  scathing  thrusts 
at  all  opposers  of  building  the  railroad,  one  would  suppose 
the  great  interpreter  of  .railroad  economy,  using  Judge  P. 
Emory  Aldrich's  name  as  an  assistant  adviser — nothing 
more. 

F  .Walker's  spirit  becalming  itself,  he  brought  forward  some 
resolutions  preparatory  to  making  survey  of  the  most  feas- 
ible route  between  East  and  North  Brookfield  and  estimates 
of  the  cost  of  construction,  with  regard  to  the  business  in- 
terests of  the  town  ;  also  that  a  committee  be  appointed  au- 
thorized to  correspond  with  any  corporation  or  individual 
who  may  be  interested  in  the  enterprise  or  in  any  other 
railroad  which  may  be  directly  connected  with  our  under- 
taking. 

T.  ]\L  Duncan  denounced  the  idea  of  a  railroad  to  stop  at 
North  Brookfield — he  was  for  a  through  route  ;  John  Gilman 
was  also  for  a  through  route  and  was  consequently  driven 
from  the  staud.  Dr.  Tyler  moved  to  adjourn  this  meeting 
until  Wednesday  evening  next,  at  7  o'clock,  January  6th, 
1875.  x\t  this  meeting,  on  motion  of  Alden  Bacheller  that  the 
town  vote  to  become  an  associate,  with  others,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  building  a  railroad  from  North  to  East  Brookfield, 
A.  Bacheller,  Bates,  J.  F.  Hebard,  John  Hill,  C.  A.  Adams 
and  others,  spoke  in  iavor  of  the  motion.  F.  Walker  thought 


more  definite,  reliable  information  relative  to  the  routes, 
grade,  tonnage  and  business  to  be  accommodated  was  neces- 
sary. Dr.  Tyler  advocated  caution  and  due  consideration 
before  taking  such  an  important  step ;  he  was  against  rais- 
ing five  per  cent  of  the  town  valuation  ;  as  he  termed  it, 
we  were  getting  a  baby  on  oar  hands  which  had  got  to  be 
brought  up  on  the  bottle,  and  wisely  advised  the  raising  of 
but  three  per  cent  on  our  valuation,  for  the  statutes  on  the  1st 
day  of  February  next  would  prohibit  the  town's  involving 
itself  beyond  said  three  per  cent.  I  think  too  much  of  my 
native  place  to  have  it  sunk  in  debt  by  this  Boston  bloat'  and 
glassware  drummer,  and  a  few  more  here,  on  the  eve  of  bank- 
ruptcy, to  be  huddled  into  office,  to  filch  the  town  of  its  indus- 
tries, for  their  own  and  a  few  others'  emolument.  That  old 
shop  has  always  had  its  foot  upon  my  throat,  and  that 
Boston  bloat  has  got  the  poll  tax  payers  and  weak  minded 
cusses  rabid,  to  yell  and  shout  at  every  bark  he  makes.  I 
tell  you,  citizens,  vote  to  raise  but  three  per  cent,  on  our  val- 
uation. J.  F.  Hebard  got  right  up  and  said  he  must  have 
five  per  cent,  for  the  baby,  which  was  applauded  as  mirth- 
fully cunning. 

The  vote  was  taken  by  ballot,  yea  and  nay,  using  the  check 
list.  The  result  was  carried.  Motion  by  T.  C  Bates 
that  the  town  now  appropriate  the  sum  of  five  per  cent,  on 
its  valuation  as  it  shall  be  made  by  the  town  assessors,  as 
subscription  towards  stock  in  building  a  railroad  from  North 
to  East  Brookfield.  The  vote  was  taken  as  above  and 
the  motion  carried.  Voted  to  adjourn  till  Tuesday  evening, 
January  12th,  1875,  at  7  o'clock  p.  m. 

January  12th,  1875,  at  7  o'clock  r.  M.:  A  live  town  meet- 
ing, and  Alden  Bacheller  is  addressing  the  house  thus:  "  I 
suppose  no  business  can  be  done  because  the  directors  have 
not  yet  been  chosen  ;  that  the  stockholders  have  concluded 
that  to  go  on  safely  we  must  employ  legal  counsel."  Chas. 
Adams,  Jr.,  also  advised  legal  counsel,  saying  that  the  select- 
men had  requested  him  to  act  as  town's  agent  in  the  mat- 
ter, and  as  he  now  understood  the  duties  of  the  agent  he  thought 
he  could  consistently  with  his  other  duties  and  engage- 
ments do  so ;  but  if  it  should  prove  that  much  time  and  labor 


were  to  devolve  upon  the  agent,  lie  should  be  obliged  to  de- 
cline the  appointment.  G.  C.  Lincoln  thought  the  town 
should  be  represented  ?n  the  choice  of  directors.  F.  Walker 
said  it  could  not  then  be  known  what  amount  of  stock  the 
town  could  subscribe  for  under  its  vote  ;  it  might  now  be 
competent  for  the  town  agent  to  subscribe  for  a  small 
amount,  or  more  than  the  amount  held  by  stockholders. 
Voted  to  adjourn  this  meeting  to  Monday,  February  1st, 
1875,  at  7  o'clock  p.  m. 

North  Brookfted,  January  17th,  1875. 

There  ha3  been  a  meeting  of  the  stockholders  for  the  pur- 
pose of  organizing  a  Railroad  Association.  They  proceeded 
to  choose  a  board  of  nine  directors,  as  follows  :  Aiden 
Bacheller,  T.  C.  Bates,  Bonum  Nye,  W.  H.  Montague,  Free- 
man Walker,  S.  S.  Edmunds,  Liberty  Stone,  T.  M.  Duncan, 
John  Hill.    Bonum  Nye,  President ;  T.M.  Duncan,  Secretary. 

The  directors  have  invited  the  town  to  become  an  asso- 
ciation. The  selectmen  have  issued  a  warrant,  calling  on 
all  citizens  qualified  to  vote  in  town  to  meet  at  the  Town 
Hall  on  Friday  evening,  January  22d,  1875,  at  7  o'clock,  to 
see  if  the  town  will  subscribe  for  and  hold  shares  in  the 
capital  stock  of  a  North  Brookfield  Railroad.  The  railroad 
corporation  to  be  formed  under  chap.  53  of  the  Acts  of  the 
year  1872,  for  the  purpose  of  building  a  railroad  from  North 
to  East  Brookfield. 

To  see  if  the  town  will  become  an  associate  for  the  forma- 
tion of  a  railroad  conrpany  to  be  formed  under  chap.  53  of 
the  Acts  of  the  year  1872,  for  the  purpose  of  building  a  rail- 
road from  North  to  East  Brookfield. 

Readers,  pause !  listen !  That  marvelous  Bates  and 
Bacheller,  who  have  been  conversant  with  court  judges  and 
railroad  presidents,  which  is  their  rallying  cry  to  bring  every 
voter  a  victim  to  their  desire,  their  one  idea,  that  a  railroad 
must  be  built  or  the  town  is  ruined.  And  every  railroad 
meeting  heretofore  held  in  the  Town  Hall  has  been  packed  to 
its  utmost  capacity  with  boys  and  unnaturalized  citizens,  as 
well  as  voters,  who  shouted  and  stamped  uproariously  for 
every  argument  in  favor  of  the  railroad,  and  hissed  the  oppos- 


8 

ers,  they  being  in  the  minority,  Bates  having  a  marvelous 
vocabulary  of  magnetic  power  over  the  ignorant  and  stupid. 
The  railroad  pulse  is  beating  in  three-fourths  of  the  audience  ; 
120  to  the  minute  in  my  opinion.  Bates,  laughingly,  informs 
the  selectmen  that  the  evening  town  meetings  had  not  been 
legal.  "  You  must  pull  down  that  warrant  for  town  meeting 
on  the  22d  inst.,  at  7  o'clock  p.  M.,  and  issue  one  calling  a 
town  meeting  on  Friday  the  29th  day  of  January  inst.,  at  10 
o'clock  A.  M."  The  warrant  was  issued.  For  further  enlight- 
enment of  the  reader,  T  will  here  interpolate  a  copy  of  H. 
Knight,  town  clerk  : 

"  Alljprevious  actions  of  the  town  in  relation  to  a  railroad 
from  North  Brookfield  to  East  Brookfield  having  been  re- 
garded as  invalid,  or  at  least  of  doubtful  legality,  on  account 
of  the  holding  of  the  meetings  in  the  evening,  and  perhaps 
for  other  reasons,  a  new  warrant  has  been  issued,  a  new 
action  been  taken,  as  will  appear  from  the  following  record. 

"  H.  Knight,  Town  Clerk." 

On  the  29th  of  January  the  railroad  town  meeting  was 
held,  in  accordance  with  warrant  issued,  and  articles  in  said 
warrant  were  acted  upon  as  follows  : 

Second  article,  now  taken  up,  G.  C.  Lincoln  paid,  in  be- 
half of  the  selectmen,  they  understood  the  law  to  provide 
that  the  form  of  a  vote  shall  or  may  be  presented  by  them, 
and  he,  therefore,  presented  the  following  form  of  a  vote : 
"  Will  the  town  subscribe  for  and  hold  shares  to  the  amount 
of  ninety  thousand  dollars  ($90,000)  in  the  capital  stock  of 
the  North  Brookfield  Railroad  Company,  a  railroad  corpora- 
tion to  be  formed  under  chap.  53  of  the  Acts  of  1872,  for 
the  purpose  of  building  a  railroad  from  North  Brool  field  to 
East  Brookfield  ?" 

Some  of  the  arguments,  pro  and  con.,  upon  the  vote  under 
consideration,  are  as  follows  :  Freeman  Walker  argued  that 
before  the  town  commit  itself  to  that  article,  we  should  first 
ascertain  where  the  road  was  to  be  located ;  what  it  will 
cost ;  how  to  be  paid  for  ?  The  cumbrous  expense  of  build- 
ing said  railroad  upon  the  town  was  clearly  set  forth  by  him. 


If  he  was  going  to  jump  a  ditch,  he  first  wanted  to  know 
how  far  he  had  to  jump,  He  therefore  moved  that  we  raise 
one  per  cent,  on  our  valuation  to  investigate  this  subject 
before  we  enter  into  the  expense.  We  mast  know  the  facts 
of  the  case,  and  should  it  prove  favorable  he  should  bo  for 
the  railroad. 

Dr.  Tyler  spoke  to  the  same  effect.  Erastus  Hill  spoke 
upon  the  same  ground,  but  gave  further  reasons  for  Bachel- 
ler  and  Bates'  railroad.  Bankruptcy  was  at  their  door,  <fec. 
Bates'  followers  showing  the  beneficial  results  which  would 
accrue,  and  hurling  venomous  slurs  upon  Walker,  Tyler  and 
Hill  (but,  O  reader,  he  was  not  put  into  tlie  felon's  cell). 
And  as  Charles  Adams  said  in  a  subsequent  meeting,  being 
aggrieved  at  some  remark  of  F.  Walker,  with  tears  in  his 
eyes  :  "  That  his  feelings  were  never  wounded  to  such  an 
extent  in  public  before  as  when  the  above  statement  of 
Bates'  slurs  was  uttered."  Bacheller  spoke  with  Bates,  also 
giving  the  statistics  of  the  three  routes  surveyed,  the  esti- 
mated cost  of  each  varying  from  $80,000  to  $100,000.  Fif- 
teen minutes  after  12  o'clock,  adjourned  for  one  hour. 

Met  according  to  adjournment,  when  the  motion  of  F. 
Walker,  to  raise  one  per  cent,  on  our  valuation  to  investigate, 
&c,  was  rejected.  The  question  was  called  for,  and  ballot 
taken  by  check  list.  Carried,  more  than  two-thirds  voting 
in  the  affirmative. 

The  following  form  of  a  vote  wras  then  presented  by  the 
selectmen,  under  article  3d  :  "  Will  the  town  become  an 
associate  for  the  formation  of  the  North  Brookfield  Railroad 
Company,  a  railroad  corporation  to  be  formed  under  chap. 
53  of  the  Acts  of  1872,  for  the  purpose  of  building  a  rail- 
road from  North  Brookfield  to  East  Brookfield ;  and  shall 
the  shares  of  the  capital  stock  of  said  corporation  to  be 
taken  by  the  town  be  subscribed  to  the  Articles  of  Associa- 
tion of  said  company?"  The  question  was  called  for,  and  the 
ballot  was  taken  by  check  list,  counted  and  declared  carried, 
more  than  two-thirds  voting  in  the  affirmative.  Voted,  on 
motion  of  F.  Walker,  that  the  town  treasurer  be  authorized 
to  borrow  such  sums  of  money  as  may  be  needed  to  pay  the 
necessary  expenses  in  obtaining  the  survey,  and  such  other 


10 

expenses  as  may  arise.  IJlojal,  sweeping  vote  that !  Voted, 
on  motion  of  T.  C.  Bates,  that  we  choose  a  committee  of 
three  to  act  with  our  town  treasurer  in  negotiating  for  the 
loan  to  the  amount  of  the  town's  subscription,  and  report 
to  the  town  at  some  future  time.-  Voted  that  the  committee 
be  selected  by  a  nominating  committee  of  three  appointed 
by  the  moderator.  The  moderator  appointed  T.  C.  Bates, 
L.  P.  DeLand,  J.  F.  Hebard,  nominating  committee.  The 
committee  reported,  and  the  town  voted  Hon.  Chas.  Adams, 
Jr.,  Bonum  Nye,  and  S.  S.  Edmunds,  committee  on  finance. 
Voted,  this  meeting  now  adjourn  until  1  o'clock  P.  M.  of 
the  day  of  the  nest  annual  March  meeting.  % 

Appointment  of  the  Railroad  Agent. 
"  Whereas,  the  town  of  North  Brookfield  at  a  legal  meet- 
ing duly  called  and  held  on  the  29th  day  of  January,  1875, 
to  take  action  relative  to  .subscribing  to  the  capital  stock  of 
the  North  Brookfield  Railroad  Company,  and  becoming  an 
associate  in  the  same,  voted  to  subscribe  ninety  thousand 
dollars  to  the  capital  stock  of  said  company.  Now  therefore, 
we  the  selectmen  of  said  town  of  North  Brookfield  do  hereby 
appoint  and  authorize  Charles  Adams,  Jr.,  in  behalf  of  said 
town  to  execute  its  vote  as  aforesaid. 

Warren  Tyler, 
Geo.  C.  Lincoln, 
John  B.  Dewing, 
Selectmen  of  North  Brookfield. 
North  Brookfield,  Feb.  13th,  1875. 

(Endorsed  upon  the  back.) 

North  Brookfield,  Feb.  15th,  1875. 
In  accordance  with  the  within  appointment  I  have  this  day 
for  and  in  behalf  of  said  town  subscribed  the  articles  of 
association  for  the  formation  of  the  North  Brookfield  Rail- 
road Company,  the  sum  of  ninety  thousand  dollars  of  the 
capital  stock  of  said  company. 

Charles  Adams,  Jr., 

Agent  of  said  town." 

(A  true  copy.) 

Attest  Hiram  Knight,  Town  Clerk. 


11 

That  the  readers  may  know  we  had  some  other  meetings 
in  the  evening  besjde  railroad  meetings,  I  will  say  Mr.  Crane 
of  Boston  addressed  the  citizens  of  North  Brookfield, 
January  18th,  upon  the  bill  issued  by  the  Directors  of  the 
Bay  State  Transportation  League.  Also  January  27th,  Rev. 
Mr.  Murray,  of  Boston,  delivered  an  address  before  the 
Library  Association.  Subject, — Poverty.  Those  who  were 
privileged  to  hear  said  address  could  not  fail  to  understand. 
He  was  not  ignorant  of  tlie  effect  of  poverty  upon  the  mental 
and  moral  size  of  men,  and  how  great  the  difficulty  of 
developing  the  higher  moral  truths  in  trie  soul,  while  his 
whole  mind  and  strength  and  time  were  required  to  meet 
plrysical  demands.  He  said  of  the  passages  of  Scripture  that 
made  him  sad,  one  was  this:  "  The  foxes  have  holes,  and  the 
birds  of  the  air  have  nests  ;  but  the  Son  of  man  hath,  not 
where  to  lay  his  head."  He  portrayed  graphically  lines  be- 
tween real  riches  and  false  riches.  A  man  may  build  a  house, 
and  have  every  element  of  beauty  within,  and  yet  he  may 
have  done  very  little  :  while  another  man  may  never  have  built 
a  house  except  the  house  of  character,  &c.  Should  this 
little  sketch  book,  written  in  a  stranger's  home,  ever  come 
before  the  gentlemen  above  referred  to,  they  will  readily 
bring  before  them  the  lady  reporter  at  t'heir  right  hand,  at 
the  time  above  mentioned.  This  lady  was  thrust  into  a 
felon's  cell  by  some  of  the  foremost  of  said  audience  because 
said  lady  will  not  bow  down  and  worship  them. 

I  also  find,  January  28th,  1875,  a  report  of  mine  reading 
thus  :  North  Brookfield  Union  Congregational  Church,  and 
its  Sabbath  School,  which  was  founded  in  1854,  have  ad- 
journed sine  die.  I  also  find  with  me  another  event  in  this 
eventful  month.  J.  E.  Porter,  Superintendent  of  Schools  in 
North  Brookfield,  and  Prudential  Committee  in  District  No. 
1  ;  and  Daniel  W.  Knight,  Prudential  Committee  in  District 
No.  2,  have  resigned  on  account  of  the  censure  cast  upon 
them  by  vote  of  the  town  on  the  High  School  controversy. 
Mrs.  Hill  being  sick  with  rheumatism  at  the  time  of  said 
meeting,  must  give  hearsay  report.  The  High  School 
teacher,  who  was  being  denounced  (being  a  native  of  Wales, 
a  few  miles  beyond  West  Warren,  Mass.),  told  me  he  could 


12 

not  conceive  of  such  a  garrulous  meeting  as  he  was  eye  and 
ear  witness  to.  James  Duncan,  Erastus  Hill  and  others, 
being  officially  set  down,  especially  said  Duncan,  scathing 
ferocious  talk — but,  reader,  it  did  not  frighten  Bothwell,  to 
put  him  in  the  felon's  cell.  He  was  thirsting  for  Mrs.  Hill 
to  locate  there.  That  meeting  was  a  disgrace  to  the  town 
for  all  time. 

The  12th  of  this  eventful  month  the  selectmen  appointed 
J.  T.  Gulliver  a  committee  in  District  No.  1,  and  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Harlow  in  District  No.  2,  to  fill  vacancies  above  men- 
tioned. 

As  some  people  become  exalted  in  about  the  same  way 
and  suddenness  as  the  popping  of  a  kernel  of  corn,  even  so 
ariseth  T.  C.  Bates.  His  sudden  thrust  upon  notoriety 
in  our  midst  was  the  renovating  and  remodeling  the  First 
Congregational  Church  which  he  undertook  by  giving 
bountifully  of  glass  fixings,  as  he  was  at  that  time  drummer 
for  a  crockery  and  glassware  firm  in"  some  distant  city. 
Said  business  being  so  lucrative,  that  said  Bates  received 
82,000  income. 

Report  has  it  that  during  the  siege  of  getting  old  citizens 
to  give  up  their  pews,  and  hereafter  compelled  to  bid  off  a  sit- 
ting or  sittings,  ae  their-  family  might  demand,  from  year  to 
year,  was  hard  mental  digestion  for  some  of  the  old  orthodox 
worshippers.  But  Bates  and  some  of  the  supers  in  the  "  big 
shop,"  who  are  rising  like  leaven  (readers,  that  kind  of 
leaven  to  the  virtuous  moral  person  is  a  poisonous  miasma), 
they  must  oust  those  old  men  and  rich  old  widows  out  of 
the  broad  isle,  that  their  sudden  growth  may  be  in  advance, 
unless  these  "  old  fogies  "  "  shell  out " — their  sittings  will  be 
in  the  "  shady  side  of  the  sanctuary,"  thus  they  argued. 
Hon.  Chas.  Adams,  Jr.,  was  against  doing  away  with  the  old- 
fashioned  choir,  in  which  said  Adams  and  family  had  been  head 
leaders,  Mr.  Adams  ever  contributing  largely  for  all  needed 
improvements,  but  that  swelling  man  Bates  informed  Hon. 
Chas.  Adams  in  divers  ways,  as  report  has  it,  "  The  choir 
could  get  along  without  him,  and  his  flute,  too."  That  re- 
mark was  bandied  round  from  social  table  to  fireside,  by  some 
as  nice  and  sharp,  and  to  the  disgust  and  contempt  of 
others. 


13 

The  church,  on  October  15th,  1874,  was  rededicated.  I  wa3 
present.  The  house  is  in  modern  style,  fresh  tapestry,  <fcc, 
looked  as  much  better  as  one  feels  after  an  ablution,  and  new 
clothes  on.  And  conspicuous  upon  the  south  side  of  the  gal- 
lery was  this  swelling  youug  man  Bates,  his  figure  somewhat 
in  advance  of  the  other  sittings,  his  eyes  rolling  constantly,  his 
whole  figure  speaking  "  All  know  I  gave  these  chandeliers. 
I  have  caused  this  work  to  be  done.  Yes,  this  is  the  Baby- 
lon I've  built  up.  I'm  to  be  first  man  in  this  house.  Now, 
they  can't  do  no  less  than  send  me  representative  after  all 
my  great  contributions,  treading  down  every  obstacle,  mak- 
ing this  fit  for  me  in  my  marvelous  expansion."  Whenever 
my  eye  rested  on  him  the  great  magnifier  was,  as  above, 
radiating. 

During  the  repairs  of  said  church  its  congregation,  on 
holyday,  had  been  invited  to  join  in  worship  with  the  Union 
Church  in  said  town.  Consequently  said  church  was  invited 
to  join  the  First  Church  during  the  winter  till  the  selling  of 
sittiugs  the  coming  April,  sittings  being  free  to  all  during 
the  said  time.  As  the  Union  Church  had  been  suffering  and 
wasting  away  for  years,  to  me,  as  well  as  to  many  others,  it 
was  most  apparently  dead.  When  it, was  reported  to  me 
the  Union  Church  had  accepted  the  above  invitation,  but 
were  not  quite  ready  to  "  sell  out,"  &c,  I  made  this  reply  : 
"Died,  October  15th,  1871,  in  North  Brookfield,  Mass.,  the 
Union  Congregational  Church,  aged  twenty  years.  The  friends 
of  the  deceased  desire  it  to  lie  in  state  a  length  of  time. 
During  its  repose  the  choir  will  chant  '  How  short  and  fleet- 
ing are  our  daj-s  !  '  " 

The  "big  shop"  too  being  enlarged,  gave  position  for  more 
"  supers."  They,  too,  must  have  some  more  public  noto- 
riety, and  offered  to  contribute  largely  if  the  Union  Church 
will  open  its  doors  (said  church  being  now  most  in  the  pro- 
prietorship of  F.  Walker,  said  gentleman  being  legally  seized 
of  the  same  through  the  nonpayment  of  taxes  assessed  on 
pews  owned  by  non-church  members).  Walker  foxedly 
cautioned  all  these  aspiring  applicants,  thus  causing  them  to 
pledge  specified  sums,  or  even  more  if  needed  ;  on  those 
conditions  the  church  was  resuscitated. 


14 

I  said  the  Union  Church  was  colonized  in  1854,  through 
fearful  dissensions  (the  name  attached  to  it  was,  the  Church 
founded  in  a  quarrel).     Conspicuous  and  foremost  was  said 
F.  Walker,  ever  ready  for  a  rebuff  to  our  most   able  and 
much  revered  Rev.  Christopher  Cushing,  colleague  with  Dr. 
Thomas  Snell.     At  this  time,  the  prominent  bolters  from  Drs. 
Snell  and  Cushing's  church  were  the  "Walkers,  Duncans  and 
Skerry ;  out  of  church  were  the  Hills,  Bigelows  and  Gilberts. 
My  husband,  then  Kittredge  Hill,  Jr.,  joined  this  stampede, 
to  my  great  grief.     I  went  "with  him,  that  the  family  might 
attend  worship  together,  but,  e'er   two  years  passed,   this 
church  was  too  mean  for  him  to  enter.     I  had — August  5th, 
1855 — united  with  said  Union  Congregational  Church  com- 
munity (with  F.  Walker  at  my  left  hand,  in  the  broad  aisle, 
together  with  a  score  of  others, — I  am  now  impressed  Both- 
well  was  of  the  number — he  is  now,  certain),  to  walk  with 
them  in  accordance  with  the  articles  of  faith  of  the  Union 
Congregational  Church.     This  church  became  so  obnoxious 
to  my  late  husband,  that  he  forbade  me  and  our  son  attending 
worship  there.      I  persisted,  and   that  act,  together   with 
Spiritualism,  which  the  dissensions  above  referred  to  had 
opened  a  space  for  some  issue  besides  quarreling  orthodox, 
one  other  cause — before  these  two  last  mentioned — sepa- 
rated me  from  my  husband.     George  F.  Hoar  and  General 
Charles  Devens  were  my  counsel.     When  Devens  enlisted 
in  the  army,  (now)  Judge  Dewey  filled  his  vacancy.     I  was 
divorced  first,  from  bed  &nd  board,  in  1859. 

In  September  of  said  year,  I  opened  a  private  school  in 
Grove  School-house,  North  Brookfield,  Massachusetts  ;  was 
very  successful,  having  previously  been  teacher  in  South 
Brookfield,  and  Spencer  and  North  Brookfield  in  1841  and 
1842,  before  my  marriage.  As  Mr.  Hill  still  remains  P.  M., 
my  friends  advised  me  to  seek  employment  in  Worcester. 
Therefore,  in  May,  18G0,  I  personally  applied  to  Otis  Put- 
nam, of  the  firm  of  Barnard,  Sumner  &  Co.,  Worcester,  to 
work  in  their  cloak  and  mantilla  department.  During  their 
seasons  of  work  I  was  there  employed  till  the  spring  of  1SG2. 
I  took  the  charge  of  the  cloak  and  mantilla  department  in  O.  • 
A.  Smith's  store,  Lincoln  House  block,  Worcester,  where  I  re- 


15 

mained  till  I  was  prostrated  with  rheumatic  fever,  and  was 
under  medical  treatment  of  Doctor  Nichols,  Worcester, 
boarding  at  that  time  with  Mr.  Osgood  Collister,  singing 
teacher.  When  recovered  enough  to  ride  home  to  my 
father's,  there  I  remained  for  a  long  time  distressingly  lame. 
During  said  time  an  opening  more  agreeable  to  my  mind 
was  forwarded  to  me,  from  Miss  Mary  Dutton,  of  the  Dutton 
Seminary,  New  Haven,  through  the  agency  of  Miss  Catha- 
rine Beecher.  There,  too,  I  remained  till  sickness — diphtheria 
— which  was  prevalent  in  the  seminary.  My  second  term  I 
was  sick  some  two  or  more  weeks,  part  of  the  time  having 
medical  aid  two  and  three  times  per  day.'  (This  said  March 
G.  F.  Hoar,  obtained  by  divorce,  $3,000  alimony. 
My  father  died  February  29,  1864.)  I  returned  to  my 
late  father's  house,  unable  to  wait  on  myself  from  the 
ravaging  effects  of  diphtheria  still  with  me.  The  com- 
ing summer  Bonum  Nye,  Colonel  Adams  and  Captain.  D. 
W.  Lane  were  appointed  appraisers  for  my  deceased 
father's  estate.  It  was  my  mother's  wish  to  have  the  whole 
house,  together  with  land  surrounding  it,  set  off  to  her,  as 
she  was  then  sixty-six  years  of  age  (was  married  to  my 
father  at  the  age  of  eighteen,  in  the  year  1813  ;  my  father 
and  grandfather  Tyler,  owning  said  farm  for  a  number  of 
years) ;  previously  to  said  marriage  mother  never  knowing 
what  it  was  to  move,  I  alone  of  the  children  joining  my 
mother  in  her  desire.  As  I  was  the  youngest,  I  was  the 
last  to  appear  before  those  legally  appointed  three  men,  "  to 
tell  what  I  had  to  say,  &c ;"  and  the  following  is  exactly 
what  I  said  to  the  legal  three  : 

Mother  desires  to  have  the  whole  house  set  off  to  her,  as 
rent  would  be  coming  in,  giving  her  some  spending  money, 
and  the  land  «in  front  of  the  house,  between  cemetery  and 
lane,  together  with  that  east  of  the  house — give  it  to  her ; . 
and  then  I  wish  an  equal  share  with  the  rest.  Could  I  des- 
ignate my  choice,  it  would  be  the  west  end  of  the  farm,  close 
to  my  lute  home  with  K.  Hill,  said  Hill's  residence  being 
in  court  under  a  bill  in  equity.  Bonum  Nye  replied  :  The 
Hills  will  not  let  you  have  that  place,  and  you  don't  want 
it.     The  town  will  blame  us  very  much  if  we  do  not  give 


16 

you  a  home  in  this  house."  D.  W.  Lane  interrupting  and 
joining  Nye  in  his  assertion.  Adams  was  silent.  The  other 
two  stating,  "  Mr.  Stoddard  and  wife  had  both  requested  that 
wc  give  you  the  west  naif  of  the  house,"  &c.  Reader,  I  was 
then  feeble,  hardly  able  to  walk.  I  said,  I  did  want  my 
house,  and  the  control  of  the  dead  bodies  of  my  four  lost 
boys,  and  Mr.  Hoar  says  I  shall  get  it.  And  as  for  the 
town's  blaming  you,  if  you  don't  do  so  and  so,  it's  none  of 
their  business.  I  think. Mrs.  Stoddard  would  be  unwilling 
to  be  set  off  herself  in  this  house,  against  mother's  wish.  I 
rose  to  leave  the  room.  In  going  out  I  said :  You  give 
mother  the  whole  house,  and  the  land  she  has  asked  for  ; 
and  my  mother  heard  me  say  it.  Reader,  you  will  be  sur- 
prised to  read  the  following  :  Those  men  set  me  off  in  parts 
of  the  east  half  of  the  house,  giving  mother  the  west  half, 
thus  twisting  me  from  garret  to  cellar,  above,  around,  below 
my  mother;  also,  giving  me  the  land  in  front  of  the  house — 
the  worst  portion  that  could  have  been  set  to  me  iii  the 
whole  farm,  and  in  open  violation  of  my  request. 

My  mother  was  angered  almost  to  frenzy  by  that  arbi- 
trary, overreaching,  tenacious,  bonum  magnum  Nye  decision. 
The  consequences  I  will  not  hero  give,  as  my  autobiography 
is  soon  to  be  issued.     And  I  do,  and  ever  have,  considered  B. 
M.  Nye  the  direct  accessory  cause  of  my  mother's  untimely 
death,  April  29th,  18G6.     In  March,  18G-5,  said  Hill's  house 
was  decreed  me  bj  the  court,   I   taking   possession  of  the 
same  the  May  following.     The  house  having  been   rented 
since  1859,  without  any  repairs,  was  in  a  most  dilapidated 
and  filthy  condition,  but  I  cleansed  and  scrubbed  till  winter, 
completely  worn  out.     The  last  week  in   December  Jacob 
Smith  applied  to  me  to  take  charge  of  the  school  in  District 
No.  1,  as  he  had  tried  two  or  three  teachers  during  the  past 
three  weeks,  all  leaving  the  school,  <fcc.     On  the   1st  day  of 
January,  18GG,  I  commenced  teaching  in  said    school,  with 
fifty  scholars,  from  A,  B,  C,  through  Greenledfs  arithmetic. 
And  a  happier,  better  disciplined  school  could  not  be  found 
— putting  aside  prejudice — being  kept   five    weeks  opened 
beyond  the  other  school. 

I  remained  there  three  terms,  till  a  Henry  Sampson  was 


17 

committee — who  will  figure  hereafter — said  he  should  not  hire 
Mrs.  Hill.  At  that  time  twelve  weeks  was  a  term,  and  two 
terms  a  year.  The  spring  of  1SGG  I  had  a  private  school  of 
over  seventy-five  scholars.  My  summer  term  in  District 
No.  1  was  an  especially  happy,  progressive  school,  every  schol- 
ar just  teeming  with  happiness  and  good  will.  As  there  had 
been  many  serious  ruptures  in  said  school  many  times  for 
years,  Minister  Keene  and  the  Examining  Committee  were 
antagonistical  to  the  school  at  the  time  of  my  taking  charge 
of  the  same,  Januaiy  1st,  18G6.  Therefore  the  weal  or  woe 
of  the  school  was  depending  upon  my  ability  or  interest  in 
their  welfare. 

Readers,  permit  me  to  relate  an  incident  which  took  place 
in  connection  with  said  school  my  second  week  there.  I 
boarded  at  Col.  Pliny  Nye's.  One  evening,  with  some  half 
dozen  scholars  around  me,  who  had  come  in  to  be  assisted 
in  learning  their  lessons — and  there  was  also  present  Col. 
Nye,  Mrs.  Hanger  and  other  members  of  the  family — came 
in  Mr.  Ebenezer  Nye  (and  his  feelings  were  a  type  of  seven- 
eighths  of  the  district),  and  the  main  topic  with  the  family 
was  the  meanness  of  the  school  committee,  as  adding  fuel  to 
the  rebellion.  Says  he :  "  Good  Heavens,  we  should  all  been 
at  Westboro  if  Mrs.  Hill  hadn't  come  here."  I  turned  to 
him  and  said,  "  I  guess  not — why,  Mr.  Keene,  when  in  school' 
last  week,  praised  up  the  school,  and  prayed  fervently  for 
parent,  scholar  and  teacher,"  and  when  he  took  my  hand  on 
leaving  he  says :  "  Your  school  this  afternoon  has  as  prosper- 
ous a  look  as  any  in  town."  Said  E.  Nye  "  Didn't  he  think 
he  had  brought  on  this  improved  condition  ?  Pray  for 
scholar  and  parent — his  prayers  don't  ascend  as  high  as  the 
smoke  of  a  house." 

In  the  course  of  the  summer  term  we  had  an  omnibus  ride 
to  Cold  Brook  Springs,  Mass.,  thirty  of  the  eldest  scholars 
participating.  Said  omnibus  was  driven  and  owned  by 
James  Duncan.  And,  in  the  morning  early,  as  we  were  to 
start  at  nine  o'clock,  J.  D.  called  at  my  house,  saying  he 
came  after  me  to  take  me  to  the  school  house  that  I  might 
keep  the  devils  in  place,  besides  I  propose  to  have  my  pay 
before  I  start.   I  replied,  "  Every  arrangement  preparatory  to- 


18 

getting  into  your  omnibus  has  been  planned  by  me,  also 
your  service  fee,  &c.,  is  collected  and  in  the  bauds  of  the 
appointed  secretary  of  said  company,  anticipating  paying 
for  said  ride  ere  they  had  it.  Furthermore,  there  has  been 
made,  by  my  scholars,  three  large  beautiful  banners  with 
mottoes  in  large  raised  letters  with  pure  green  cuttings: 
first  motto,  '  Happy  Band  ;'  second  motto,  District  No.  1 ; 
third  motto,  '  "We  love  each  other.'  " 

Reader,  the  native  instinct  of  the  banner  boys  showed 
itself  when  passing  where  the  school  committee  lived,  or 
others  who  they  felt  had  wronged  them.  Those  banner 
mottoes  would  be  turned  toward  them  with  rapidity.  J.  D. 
being  very  happy  with  the  money,  and  clock  work  proceed- 
ings of  the  happy  band,  drove  us  round  the  different  streets 
in  the  village,  halting  in  noticeable  places  to  show  us  off. 
After  a  splendid  ride  we  reached  the  springs  and  tested  the 
medical  waters  and  had  a  grove  dinner.  When  through, 
Fannie  Ranger  came  forward,  placing  a  beautiful  crown  upon 
my  head  with  appropriate  remarks,  which  took  me  with  such 
surprise  I  bowed  my  head  and  wept.  J.  D.  came  forward 
and  said  :  "  Hallo  J  crowned!  You  should  had  it  some  other 
color  beside  green  (it  being  green  and  gilt).  Mrs.  Hill  is  too 
black  to  wear  green."  My  only  reply  was  a  fervent  kiss 
given  to  each  scholar.  "Winter  and  summer  I  was  em- 
ployed. My  fall  private  school  numbered  over  one  hundred 
scholars.  Hiram  Knight,  having  prejudicious  spite  towards 
me*  tried,  with  his  might,  to  prevent  my  having  a  private 
school,  saying  I  advanced  those  in  attendance  beyond  their 
classes,  thus  deranging  the  school,  &c,  In  the  spring  a 
private  school  of  thirty -five  scholars  at  my  residence.  Said 
Knight  preventing  my  having  a  public  schoolroom,  in  the 
summer  of  1867  I  taught  on  Eagged  Hill,  "West  Brook- 
field,  eighteen  weeks,  in  the  old  district  of  grandfather 
Tyler.  At  the  close  of  said  school,  after  great  praise  given 
to  me,  in  the  school  a  unanimous  vote  of  thanks  was 
taken  for  my  extra  labor  and  painstaking.  A  memorable 
incident  Avhile  in  this  school — the  first  park  of  the  term — 
while  boarding  at  Coleman  Gilbert's  :  One  fine  morning  on 
entering  my  schoolroom  a  strong  fume  of  brimstone  caused 


19 

me  to  say,  whoever  lias  brimstone  with  them  please  leave 
the  same  outside  of  the  door,  the  smell  is  oppressive  to  me. 
In  my  usual  round  to  assist  and  direct  my  pupils,  that  their 
lessons  might  be  learned  understandingly,  and  being  called 
to  assist  a  Howe  boy,  who  had  been  absent  from  school  two 
or  three  days,  I  asked  him  the  cause  of  his  absence. 
Howe:  "I  have  been  sick."  Noticing  eruptive  sores  be- 
tween his  fingers,  said  I,  "What  is  the  matter  with  your 
hands?"  Howe  :"  Erysipelas."  Elizabeth  Tyler  (my  second 
cousin)  arose  and  with  propelling  force  shouted  "  he'd  got 
the  itch,  and  grandmarm  says  we  shall  all  ketch  it ;  most 
every  one  has  got  brimstone  sewed  in  their  clothes."  Reader, 
don't  imagine  I  told  her  to  sit  down  for  she  did  that  after 
giving  the  momentous  alarm.  I  quietly  rose  from  his  side, 
went  to  my  desk  ( facing  my  school — upon  every  brow  was  a 
woeful  quizzing  smirk),  Master  Howe  if  you  have,  I  dismiss 
you  from  school  until  you  are  in  a  healthy  condition  to  be 
here.  Howe  and  his  sisters  and  brothers  began  crying  say- 
ing he  has  not  the  itch  ;  it's  because  we  are  poor  makes  them 
lie  so  about  us  ;  it's  erysipelas  that  ails  him.  I  rung  my  bell. 
Then  said,  Charley  Sampson,  "  You  go  home;  tell  your  father 
(the  committee)  to  bring  Dr.  Blodgett  to  this  schoolroom 
the  earliest  moment  possible  that  he  may  examine  T.  Howe, 
and  thus  be  able  to  inform  us  what  ails  said  boy.  Charley 
sped  off  with  the  alacrity  of  a  deer,  and  Howe  took  himself 
off  next  without  being  asked  again. 

Mr.  Sampson  soon  brought  up  with  said  doctor,  and  espy- 
ing said  boy,  at  home,  called,  found  said  boy  diseased  with 
the  old  army  itch  (it  having  been  brought  into  the  school 
by  said  family  two  years  previous,  breaking  up  the  school, 
from  which  the  teacher  did  not  recover  for  three  months). 
They  then  came  to  the  schoolroom,  Dr.  Blodgett  examining 
every  scholar's  hand,  mine  included,  for  I  had  commenced 
scratching,  much  to  the  amusement  of  said  doctor.  The  doc- 
tor telling  two  boys,  who  had  been  with  said  Howe,  to  go 
home  and  be  cared  for  in  haste. 

As  the  above  gentlemen  were  leaving,  or  standing  upon 
the  school  step,  the  eldest  daughter  in  school  of  said  family 
took  her  books  and  started  to  leave,  crying  and  muttering  "  It's 


20 

just  'cause  we  are  poor,  he  hain't  got  the  itch."  I  stepped 
forward,  placing  my  hand  on  her  shoulder,  saying  :  "  Martha, 
don't  feel  so  ;  the  disgrace  will  be  in  exposing  others  to  the 
disease."  She  snapped  round  and  bit  my  hand  like  a  dog. 
Reader,  my  hand  swelled  so  badly,  Mrs.  Gilbert  had  to  poul- 
tice, &c,  the  same.  It  was  the  unanimous  voice  of  the 
district  that  my  instant  resolute  move  saved  the  spreading 
of  that  hideous  disease,  and  the  breaking  up  of  the  school, 
which  was,  I  think,  just  the  meaning  of  that  vote  passed.  The 
coming  fall  my  private  school  numbered  forty-seven  scholars. 

In  the  winter  I  taught  in  No.  7,  my  old  native  school  house, 
boarding  with  Chas.  E.  Jenks.  During  vacation  I  fitted 
scholars  for  High  School.  The  following  summer  taught  in 
father  Hill's  district,  No.  5,  boarding  at  home  ;  James  Dun- 
can furnishing  me  with  a  team,  driven  by  his  children,  to 
and  fro,  during  the  term,  for  which  I  paid  $25.  Private 
school  in  the  fall. 

Winter  of  1868-69  I  taught  in  Spencer,  District  No.  5,  a 
school  of  advanced  scholars  ;  Mayhew's  book-keeping,  single 
and  double  entry,  was  thoroughly  learned,  Robinson's  ad- 
vanced arithmetic  wras  mastered  in  its  every  mathematical 
principle  ;  Warren's  Physical  Geography  was  memorized  by 
a  class  of  five.  Two  members  of  the  above  classes  commenced 
teaching  in  the  summer  term,  and  proved  themselves  then 
and  since  efficient  teachers. 

I  will  here  state,  Spencer  has  the  greatest  scholastic 
ability  of  any  town  within  the  radius  of  20  miles. 
Reader,  is  not  this  the  evidence  of  her  business  prosperity  ? 
I  will  interpolate  my  teaching  in  Spencer  the  winter  of  1811-2 
(at  that  time  schools  were  schools.  This  frivolous  flummery, 
which  for  a  few  years  past  occupied  four-fifths  of  school  hours, 
had  then  no  foothold.)  Day's  Algebra  and  Adams' Arithmetic, 
was  taken  up,  memorized,  and  practically  applied,  with 
as  much  care  and  interest  as  the  gewgaws  of  the  day  are 
attached  to  the  feeble  minded  pupil.  The  spring  and 
summer  I  gave  private  instructions  by  the  hour,  and  also 
taught  school  at  my  own  residence.  In  winter  of  1809  and 
70  taught  again  in  Spencer,  No.  5.  Gave  them  private  re- 
citations, at  my  own  residence,  in  book-keeping,  algebra, 


21 

analysis,  ancient  history,  physiology  and  science  of  common 
things.  Summer  term  engaged  and  examined  for  to  teach  in 
New  Braintree,  district  No.  1.  Owing  to  the  distance  of  board- 
ing house  I  gave  the  school  up — remaining  at  home,  and 
giving  private  recitations,  afternoon  and  evening,  during  the 
summer  and  fall.  T  was  engaged  by  Superintendent  Robert 
Beecher  to  take  charge  of  school  in  district  No.  3  in  the  winter 
of  1870  and  '71.  Sabbath  afternoon,  previous  to  the  next 
morning  (Monday)  for  said  school  to  commence,  said  Beecher 
called  at  my  residence,  saying  he  came  down  Saturday  even- 
ing, about  8  o'clock,  and  there  being  no  light  in  my  house 
did  not  cross  the  street ;  and  he  was  in  something  of  a 
predicament,  the  issue  of  which  would  depend  upon  Mrs. 
Hill's  magnanimous  spirit.  "  A  young  lady  from  somewhere 
came  in  a  coach  Saturday  evening,  to  take  charge  of  School 
No.  3,  to  whicn  you  are  assigned."     And  it  came  about  in  this 

way  :  I  was and  said  young  lady  desired  to  go  out 

in  the  country  to  teach  the  rude  country  lasses.  Beecher  :  "  I 
will  give  you  a  school  of  ten  weeks,  so  much  per  wreek."  Lady  : 
"  It's  a  bargain,  I'll  be  there."  Beecher  :  "  Supposing  she  was 
joking,  as  3*ou  know  I  must  carry  my  part;  thus  I  am  in- 
volved," I  bowed  my  head  and  wept.  Beecher  says  :  "  Dry 
up  those  tears  ;  good  heavens,  you  will  have  chronic  rheu- 
matism, diphtheria,  miasmal  fever,  and  the  Lord  knows  what 
more,  down  in  that  sunken  hole.  Now  I  will  guarantee  you 
will  have  private  scholars  enough,  and  make  more  money  in 
the  end-;— deducting  doctor's  bill,  perhaps  loss  of  life."  Thus 
I  was  confronted  with  no  escape  but  surrender.  Private 
scholars  were  forthcoming — young  men  from  "  big  shop" — 
to  whom  I  gave  lessons  in  grammar,  letter  writing,  book- 
keeping, interest  and  percentage,  &c.  ;  James  Duncan's  son, 
Wendell  in  book-keeping,  and  daughter,  Viana  Bella,  in 
other  branches,  on  whom  extra  time  and  painstaking  were 
bestowed. 

A  few  brief  outlines  of  events,  from  my  marriage,  March 
22d,  1843,  aged  16  years,  2  months,  and  26  days.  My  hus- 
band was  29  years,  5  months,  and  23  days.  My  father 
giving  me  a  large  wedding  and  extra  furnishing  for  house- 
keeping.    Not  a  cloud  was  in  the  sky  that  marriage  day,  and 


22 

everything  equally  bright  and  prospective.  Eev.  Dr. 
Thomas  Snell,  minister  of  my  native  town.  After  the 
marriage  ceremony,  while  partaking  of  the  feast,  Dr.  Snell 
remarked  to  my  husband  upon  his  fortune  in  getting  me  for 
a  wife,  adding  some  were  more  capable  of  being  married  at 
the  age  of  sixteen  than  others  at  thirty. 

January  8th,  1844, 1  had  a  son  born,  weighing  3^  pounds, 
all  dressed.  Dec.  27th,  1846,  my  twentieth  birthday  another 
son  was  born,  and  lived  till  Aug.  IGth,  1847.  As  something 
was  in  my  family  making  a  skeleton  not  bearable  for  a  spir- 
ited lady,  in  October  following  I  stepped  from  my  husband's 
door,  saying  I  should  not  return  till  my  house  was  rid  of 
that  skeleton.  The  following  January  the  skeleton  was 
pledged  never  to  be  thrust  in  my  place,  if  I  would  return  to 
my  apparently  mourning  husband  and  child — which  I  did 
with  as  much  alacrity  and  forgiveness  toward  my  husband 
as  a  mother  ever  gave  her  child,  Dr.  Snell  arranging  and 
appointing  the  meeting  at  his  residence  ;  and  after  concilia- 
tion joined  our  hands,  repeating  the  marriage  vow,  and  clos- 
ing in  lengthened  prayer,  still  holding  our  hands.  We  then 
took  up  our  abode  in  the  village,  renting  a  tenement  in  James 
Duncan's  house,  till  we  were  building  the  residence  I  now 
occupy,  which  was  decreed  me  in  my  divorce  from  Mr.  Hill, 
in  1864.  I  will  here  tell  Dr.  Snell's  advice  to  me,  after  my 
separation  from  Mr.  Hill,  from  bed  and  board  with  $150.00 
alimony.  "My  afflicted  child  I  have  married  you  twice  to 
Mr.  Hill,  and  from  what  you  say,  and  others,  he  has  no  legal 
right  to  you.  I  now  sincerely  charge  you,  never  to  attempt 
to  live  with  him  again.  I  kuow  the  careful  instruction  you 
have  ever  given  your  son,  and  in  God's  own  time  you  will 
reap  the  reward.  Let  us  pray,"  and  we  knelt,  and  his  wife 
and  Abbie,  in  lengthy  prayer.  On  leaving  his  house,  at  the 
front  door  with  my  hand  in  his,  he  says,  "  God  bless  you, 
God  be  merciful  unto  you  and  keep  you  safe  from  harm. 
Amen." 

In  1854,  June  10th,  another  son  was  born,  and  died 
April  17th,  1857,  of  scarlet  fever  and  canker  rash  ;  as 
beautiful  and  bright  child  as  was  ever  born  of  woman.  His 
constitution    baffled    that    terrible   disease  nineteen  days. 


23 

Nine  of  those  days  the  sufferer  could  not  make  a  loud  noise, 
owing  in  part  to  the  hard  bunches  in  his  throat.  I  admin- 
istered to  his  every  need  ;  seventeen  of  those  days  my  clothes 
were  not  off,  to  lie  down  in  bed.  My  aged  father  would 
come  up  in  the  morning,  and  watch  with  me  every  move  and 
change  of  the  lovely  grandson  ;  mother  coming  when  she 
could,  and  would  often  say,  "  it  seems  almost  wicked  for  you 
to  do  so  much,  and  hold  that  dying  child  here  so  long."  His 
strong  father  was  crushed  in  spirit  at  the  loss  of  his  idol  boy. 
Our  neighbors  and  friends  did  for  us  all  in  their  power  to  stay 
the  great  destroyer.  My  eldest  son,  then  thirteen  years 
of  age,  was  struck  with  the  same  disease  three  days  previous, 
and  Dr .  F.  said  he  must  die,  but  our  pet  darling  would  recover. 
The  attachment  between  the  two  brothers  was  the  purest  of 
earth.  The  agony  of  the  lone  brother,  when  that  cold,  silent 
darling's  form  was  borne  from  the  threshhold,  never  to  return, 
was  heartrending  to  all,  and  fresh  flowers  were  every  week 
placed  upon  his  coffin  in  the  silent  tomb  for  five-years.  The 
funeral  solemnities  were  conducted  by  Wm.  H.  Beecher,  then 
candidate  for  settlement  over  the  Union  Congregational 
Church,  from  whence  Rev.  Dr.  Waldo  had  been  dismissed  a 
few  weeks  previous.  The  very  name  of  Beecher  throwing  a 
mantle  over  the  great  ordeal  the  Church  had  been  called  to 
pass  through.  I  had  been  a  teacher  in  Sabbath  School 
for  years,  commencing  under  the  ministry  of  Drs.  Snell  and 
Gushing,  and  continuing  (after  leaving  my  own  home 
church  for  the  sake  of  my  husband)  when  the  Union 
Church  was  established.  When  the  Missionary  Sewing  Cir- 
cle was  established  in  this  church,  at  its  re-organization 
I  was  appointed  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  same, 
which  places  I  held  for  years,  or  till  my  absence  from  town 
caused  me  to  resign  the  position.  During  my  secretaryship 
I  corresponded  with  Lewis  Tappen  and  Jooelyn  of  New 
York,  of  the  American  Board  of  Missions.  And  many  choice 
gems  of  poetry  are  daily  in  my  mind,  sent  me  by  them  at 
that  time.  Thus  I  became  very  intimate  writh  Mr.  Beecher's 
family — every  member  of  whom  I  revered,  and  esteemed. 
Mrs.  Beecher's  every  word  and  action  seemed  hallowed,  and 
never  did  I  witness  a  rude  action  or  uncouth  saying  in  that 


24 

family  while  they  remained  in  our  midst.  But  their  superi- 
ority brought  envious  censure  ;  and  dissatisfaction  from  the 
querulous  spirit  born  with  the  church,  caused  Mr.  Beecl^sr 
and  family,  after  a  few  years,  to  become  member ;  of  the 
First  Church,  instead  of  pastor  of  Union  Church.  Mrs. 
Beecher  died  January  5th,  1870  ;  the  family  leaving,  except 
Robert,  the  April  following. 

Mr.  Hill  was  appointed  postmaster  in  November,  1856, 
and  held  the  position  until  1860.  When  his  wife  I 
took  charge  of  the  quarterly  settlements  in  said  office,  and 
when  making  returns  at  Worcester,  I  always  used  language 
as  if  in  repetition  of  Mr.  Hill,  fearing  ever  I  should  assume 
"  the  aspect  of  pants."  December  19th,  1858,  twin  boys 
were  born  to  us,  as  if  to  replace  the  two  gone  to  join  the 
angel  band.  The  first  born  dying  the  6th  of  March  follow- 
ing, the  other  on  the  25th.  Mr.  Hill  would  often  speak  as  if 
frenzied — "  Am  I  never  to  raise  another  child  ?"  And  he 
would  seem  almost  to  curse  G.  )d  and  man,  for  no  fathers 
ever  loved  their  babies  more' than  he. 

At  this  time  spiritualism  came  in  like  a  flood  in  our  midst, 
yet  the  door  was  opened  wide  for  some  isms  "  to  kill," 
as  they  said,  "  the  fighting  orthodox."  Mr.  Hill  joined 
them. 

After  my  separation  from  Mr.  Hill,  Mrs.  Beecher  was  my 
sole  adviser  on  all  private  matters,  keeping  and  giving 
as  circumstances  required.  Dr.  Lyman  Beecher  and  his 
wife  beiDg  at  his  son's,  Wm.  H.  B.,  at  this  time  of  fiery  ordeal 
Dr.  Beecher,  taking  great  interest  in  my  case,  would, 
whenever  I  was  going  to  court  or  to  seek  for  counsel,  ere  I 
started,  say  to  all  present  in  the  room,  "let  us  pray,"  and 
then  he  would  invoke  the  divine  blessing  and  guidance  on 
my  every  move.  When  the  court  granted  my  divorce, 
they  also  gave  me  $3,000  alimony,  which  had  to  be 
drawn  through  bills  in  equity,  Mr.  Hill's  brother  contesting, 
&c.  My  last  court  and  all  claims  liquidated  in  said  Hill 
family  March  22d,  1864,  just  twenty-one  years  from  the  day 
of  my  marriage.  My  father  died  February  29th,  1864. 
The  reader  may  think  this  strange  mingling,  but  the  conclu- 
sions of  this  pamphlet  will  solve  the  enigma. 


25 

The  winter  term  of  1871  and  '2,  I  was  engaged  to  teach 
in  Oakham ;  was  examined  for  the  same.  After  examination 
I  learned  I  had  one  mile  to  walk  from  my  boarding  house  ; 
assigned  to  school ;  that  was  quite  a  set  back  to  m}r  feel- 
ings ;  always  having  heard  in  my  younger  days  "  of  people 
going  out  of  this  world  into  Oakham,"  and  then  add  one 
mile,  loomed  up  too  much  distance  for  me  to  foot — and 
having  an  application  to  teach  the  grammar  school  in  Wales 
—end  an  able  teacher  was  wishing  for  the  Oakham  position, 
which  I  most  cheerfully  gave  over  to  his  charge.  Therefore 
I  taught  twelve  weeks  in  Wales,  boarding  with  my  great 
uncle  Dr.  John  Smith ;  and  my  home,  while  there  with  him, 
was  among  my  happiest  associations.  The  scenery  of  its 
hills  and  dales  was  biblically  romantic  to  me. 

March  28th,  1871,  a  writ  of  tort  was  served  on  me,  to 
answer  to  whatever  James  Duncan  might  allege  against  me, 
a  private  attachment  having  been  laid  upon  my  property  by 
him  the  lGth  of  January  before.  When  Newton  read  that  war- 
rant, a  voice  seemed  to  speak  to  me  "  bring  an  action  before 
midnight!  attach  everything  he  owns  at  once!"  It  Avas 
then  about  ten  o'clock,  the  anniversary  day  of  the  burial  of  my 
last  born  babe.  I  accordingly  took  the  noon  train  for  Wor- 
cester, went  to  Bacon  &  Aldrich  for  legal  advice.  They  being 
out  on  some  special  business — waiting  in  greatest  anxiety 
till  about  four  o'clock,  and  their  not  returning — and  know- 
ing my  order  must  be  obeyed — G.  F.  Yerry  coming  up  stairs 
(ever  before  my  opposing  counsel),  I  asked  his  advice  ;  his 
reply  was  "  If  you  don't  serve  your  warrant  on  Duncan  be- 
fore midnight,  it  cannot  be  entered  next  court."  He  accord- 
ingly filled  out  a  warrant,  and  I  returned  home,  giving  it  to 
Luther  P.  De  Land,  who  served  it  on  said  Duncan,  closing 
his  livery,  &c.  Said  James  thereupon  had  to  bestir  himself 
and  get  out  a  replevin,  Chas.  Duncan  being  his  bondsman. 
It  agitated  said  James  very  much,  and  when  brought  before 
Squire  Beecher  with  his  bondsmen, he  repeatedly  asserted  "It 
was  not  his  doings,  somebody  else  has  brought  this  about." 
Squire  Beecher  says,  "  How  does  it  happen  this  private 
attachment  was  laid  upon  Mrs.  Hill's  real  estate  by  you 
January  16th  ?"     "  Oh,  he  had  that  done  when  he  was  get- 


20 

ting  his  insurance.  But  he  charged  them  not  to  do  anything 
about  it  till  they  heard  from  him  again,  and  they  promised 
it  should  not  be  made  known,  etc."  Chas.  Duncan  said 
"  there  was  a  mink  in  the  wall  somewhere."  Duncan  goes 
to  Dr.  Tyler  to  have  it  hushed  up.  F.  Walker  shows  his 
talons  by  getting  Emory  Jenks  to  come  to  me  to  effect  a 
settlement.  Mr.  Jenks  came,  and  in  due  time  informed  M>. 
"Walker  how  he  thought  a  settlement  might  be  effected,  &c. 
Mr.  Walker  pompously  replied,  "  it  must  be  stopped,  each 
one  paying  his  own  costs — and  on  no  other  ground."  It 
surprised  Mr.  C.  E.  Jenks,  as  he  had  a  different  conception  of 
his  application  to  him  for  to  get  adjudication  of  the  same. 
During  the  preceding  month  Mrs.  Duncan  was  heard  to 
take  my  name  in  a  libelous  manner,  therefore  a  warrant 
was  issued  for  her  to  answer  to  said  libel — Mr.  T.  M.  Duncan 
being  her  bondsman.  Duncan  was  often  heard  to  say  "  I'll 
not  stop  till  I  make  Miss  Hill  spend  her  last  dollar — I'll  fix 
her."  James  Duncan  being  a  man  of  questionable  morality 
— Mrs.  Hill  having  offended  his  fiendish  purposes — refusing 
to  ride  with  him,  and  telling  his  wife  the  reason  why,  etc. 
His  wife  and  their  son  Charles  coming  repeatedly  to  my 
residence  to  heal  and  reconcile  the  breach  of  friendship  so 
ruthlessly  sundered  by  Mr.  Duncan's  known  trait  of  character. 
Mr.  Duncan  coming  with  his  wife  at  last,  was  ready  to 
do  anything,  and  ask  my  forgiveness  upon  his  knees  (the 
date  of  which  I  have  in  my  memorandum  at  home),  if  I 
would  only  forgive  and  appear  cordial  in  his  family  as  be- 
fore. I  forgave — never  to  any  one  did  I  repeat  his  insult, 
except  to  Mrs.  Beecher  and  Mrs.  D.  W.  Lane — well  know- 
ing that  with  those  Christian  women  it  would  be  kept  silent 
as  the  grave.  Mrs.  Beecher  regretted  I  had  ever  repeated 
it  to  Mrs.  Duncan,  as  she  was  known  to  be  a  jealous  spirit- 
ed frivolous  woman ;  she  feared  her  vengeance  would  be 
turned  on  me  with  the  same  vigor  as  upon  some  others  in 
our  midst. 

Mrs.  Duncan  had  often  repeated,  "  if  one  place  in  town 
was  cleaned  out,  tho  great  source  of  her  misery  and  jeal- 
ousy, she  should  bo  perfectly  happy,"  etc.  And  would  add, 
"  if  that   house   ain't  emptied  of  its  inmates will  clear 


27 

that  nest  out  clean."  And,  reader,  that  nest  was  cleaned 
out  in  the  dead  of  night  during  one  of  tho  most  tempestuous 
storms  known  in  our  regions.  When  the  insurance  com- 
panies viewed  the  ruins,  and  learning  the  jealousy  existing 
on  the  part  of  the  family  towards  its  inmates,  he  could  not 
get  his  insurance  blanket  unless  he  could  giro  some  reason 
that  it  had  been  the  work  of  an  incendiary  out  of  his  family. 
I  will  here  instance,  J.  Duncan  had  had  buildings  burned 
three  or  four  times  before  this  one,  the  "  Old  Tavern " 
being  one.  I  was,  at  this  time,  in  New  Haven,  at  Dutton 
Seminary,  and  it  was  written  me  there,  that  the  firemen's 
hose  was  cut  repeatedly  to  prevent,  as  it  were,  the  extin- 
guishing of  the  flames.  Readers,  you  will  see  insurance 
companies  had  been  well  bled  by  J.  D.  A  tenant  in  said 
tavern,  report  has  had  it,  was  tenant  in  house  last  burned. 
And  as  I  knew  from  his  and  his  wife's  own  tongue  the  dire- 
ful jealousy  on  her  part  towards  some  inmates  of  the  house, 
and  Duncan  well  knowing  my  word  "  would  drop  as  the 
rain  and  distil  like  the  dew,"  and  that  latent  unsatiated  re- 
pulse above  mentioned,  and  to  cover  their  own  sins  my  name 
was  thus  ignominiously  dragged  into  the  Superior  Court  at 
Worcester.  Duncan  taking  as  witnesses,  scores  of  the  ques- 
tionable minded,  making  gratuitous  and  bountiful  spread  of 
money,  holding  hundreds  of  dollars  in  his  hands  in  bills,  to 
be  seen  by  all,  tendering  to  those  he  had  bought  down  there 
as  mere  tools.  Alter  a  siege  of  five  davs — about  three  of 
which  were  spent  in  hearing  Duncan's  witnesses,  each  one 
repeating  the  same  thing — "  they  heard  so  and  so,"  not  one 
of  the  whole  number  could  tell  for  his  or  her  life  who  said 
it.  Duncan  alone  criminating,  for  which  State  prison  for 
life  ought  to  be  the  sentence,  and  would  be,  if  justice  were 
executed.  Duncan  and  wile  and  Jane  Dale  having  a 
written  programme  which  they  had  made  up  with  their  own 
vocabulary — learning  to  repeat  it  from  day  to  day,  each 
reciting  to  the  other,  from  time  to  time,  Duncan  often  say- 
ing to  them,  "  you  got  this  learnt,  you  won't  have  the  papers 
to  look  on  in  court."  An  eye  and  ear  witness  of  the  above 
told  the  same  to  Dr.  Tyler,  and  that  paper  or  its  copy  was 
used  in  court  by  their  lawyer,  thus  attempting  to  criminate 


28 

me,  who  was  as  innocent  of  the  crime  they  were  trying  to 
allege  to  me  as  the  blood  of  Christ.  And  I  have  yet  first  to 
believe  that  in  no  county,  except  the  one  mentioned,  would 
such  evidence  be  allowable  on  the  court  stand — neither 
in  that  county  would  such  a  scene  take  place  before  the 
war.  As  the  sheriff  and  official  places  are  rilled  with  men 
whose  only  qualification  was  their  love  for  sporting,  es- 
pecially hunting,  having  been  trained  in  the  army  to  hunt 
and  kill.  Literary  qualifications  were  not  an  element  in  their 
being  ;  they  learnt  the  requirements  of  their  offices  by  prac- 
tice, and  if  officers  thus  employed  violate  the  law  constantly 
— the  defendants  are  too    often  in  the  place  of  the  "  Old 

Legree  slaves,"  "  d n  ye,  we  got  ye,  help  yourself  if  you 

can,"  tlius  compelled  to  surrender.  And  if  there  chances 
to  be  one  who  walks  in  uprightness  and  truth,  and  scorns, 
and  bids  defiance  to  their  illegal  traffic,  they  are  set  upon 
as  if  by  bloodhounds  to  save  the  spoils  to  the  tres- 
passer. And  the  advocate  of  justice  and  right  is  led  to 
cry  in  anguish  of  soul,  "  Oh  Lord,  how  long,  how  long !" 
The  above  court  ended  in  my  behalf,  giving  me  a  small  pit- 
tance for  libel  damage  !  James  Duncan  not  trying  his  tort 
and  private  attachment  on  my  property  case  against  me. 
As  my  case  against  J.  Duncan  was  to  be  tried  in  April, 
I  wrote  my  counsel  not  to  fail  to  have  the  case  tried,  as  I 
was  ready  to  meet  it  at  its  every  issue.  Not  hearing  from 
him,  I  went  down  the  first  day  of  court,  in  said  April,  and 
reaching  the  court  house  before  11  o'clock  A.  m.,  my  lawyer 
and  his  had  just  had  it  dropped.  My  consternation  was 
unbounded,  when  the  clerk  of  the  courts  thus  informed  me. 
I  then  betook  myself  to  Duncan's  counsel,  to  get  his  ver- 
sion. He  said,  he  "  thought  it  outrageous  for  me  to  be  kept 
in  court,  when  my  time  and  services  ought  to  be  in  the 
school  room."  He  regretted  the  past  proceedings  very 
much,  and  the  citizens  of  North  Brookfield  were  not  willing 
the  case  should  be  continued  longer.  I  replied,  they  were 
willing  James  Duncan  should  use  my  name  liberally  to  get  his 
insurance,  and  save  money  to  that  quarrelling  church,  to 
which  the  Duncans  were  great  contributors.  Skerry  and  F. 
Walker  (James  Duncan  not  a  churchman),  without  one  iota 


29 

of  reason,  except  the  money  for  their  church,  did  work  -with 
might,  to  ruin  my  character.  My  case  was  being  reinstated 
in  court  against  J.  Duncan,  by  counsel  employed  in  West- 
ern Massachusetts;  and  as  I  was  going  to  the  post  office  in 
North  Brookfield,  with  a  letter  to  said  counsel,  on  the  25th  of 
said  April,  in  passing  the  "big  shop,"  where  ball-playing 
in  the  street  front  of  said  shop,  was  and  had  been,  for  years 
at  times  a  dangerous  nuisance — Mrs.  De  Bevoise,  only  the 
Friday  evening  before  said  day,  had  turned  homeward,  fear- 
ing she  would  be  killed  in  passing  the  playing  crowd  in  the 
street  and  ou  the  common  front  of  Church, — about  two  o'clock 
said  25th  April,  by  said  crowd,  I  was  struck  by  their  club 
(wielded  by  Austin  Adams),  in  this  rabble,  the  blow  fall- 
ing just  above  the  right  temple.  After  I  came  to  my  senses, 
so  as  to  hear,  not  feeling  any  pain,  and  in  total  darkness 
for  a  length  of  time,  my  vision  returned,  but  dim.  My 
brother  dressing  the  wound,  carrying  me  home,  in  which 
state  of  numbness  I  remained  some  two  days,  when  concus- 
sion set  in,  and  my  life  hung  quivering  for  days.  I  endured 
excruciating  pain  for  weeks,  and  not  once  during  said  sick- 
ness was  my  mind  broken,  but  calm,  ever  sinking,  when 
weary  for  months,  I  was  unable  to  work  or  read.  It  was 
more  than  six  months  before  I  could  stoop  without  nausea. 

The  following  September,  seven  of  the  citizens  called  a 
town  meeting,  for  the  purpose  of  raising  money  as  remunera- 
tion for  injury  received  by  me  in  the  public  street,  by  an 
acknowledged  public  nuisance.  During timeof  said  warrant 
(report  had  it),  F.  Walker,  S.  Skerry,  bestirred  themselves  to 
bring  out  the  class  of  votes  who  had  figured  at  the  court  for 
said  gentlemen,  telling  said  men  "  there  was  no  law  holding 
the  town  responsible  for  said  injury,  and  we  must  all  be 
there,  for  there  is  a  "  set  here  "  who  are  going  to  vote  to  pay 
her  damages."  "  Don't  fail  to  be  there,  we'll  close  that  town 
meeting  as  quick  as  it  begins."  And,  reader,  they  did.  Nat. 
Foster,  meeting  me  subsequently  (my  countenance  being  most 
deathly),  said  he,  "  How  are  you  getting  over  your  injury?" 
"I'm  not  able  to  work  yet,  sir,  nor  read,  the  utmost  care  I 
have  to  take  of  myself.  It  seems  hard  that  top  of  that 
Duncan  outrage  I  should  have  added  to  my  cup  this  physical 


30 

suffering,  with  loss  of  time,  money,  &c.  And  the  town  meet- 
ing held  typifies  the  Christianity  of  this  place.  "  You  needn't 
think,  or  expect  the  town  will  pay  ono  cent  that  it's  not 
obliged  to."  I  replied,  "  I'll  make  a  minute  of  your  statement, 
I  am  impressed,  sir,  that  it  will  be  brought  to  notice  some 
future  time ;  good-day."  And,  reader,  but  three  church  mem- 
bers of  the  church  in  which  I  am  member,  so  much  as  gave 
me  the  cup  of  "  cold  water"  during  the  above  sickness.  The 
very  church  that  I  had  labored  for,  and  contributed  of  my 
hard  labor  for  its  support  years  previous  in  open  violation 
of  my  late  husband's  wish. 

The  inhuman  treatment  from  said  church,  and  in  open 
violation  of  all  orthodox  creeds,  caused  me  to  withdraw  from 
attending  church  on  Sabbath  day,  till  said  church  should 
comply  with  congregational  usages,  "  when  a  brother  is  of- 
fended, <fec,"  not  one  word  said  to  me  by  said  body  till  May 
16th,  1873,  James  Miller,  Clerk  Union  Congregational  Church, 
before  mentioned,  wrote  me  calling  my  attention  to  that  part 
of  the  covenant  which  reads,  "  You  engage  to  walk  with  the 
church  in  Christian  fellowship  and  charity,  to  attend  upon 
its  ordinances,  &o."  Reader,  even  the  minister  of  the  said 
church  did  not  call  on  me  during  my  long  sickness,  notwith- 
standing I  asked  him  to,  at  times  when  meeting  him  from 
home.  Rev.  De  Bevoise  and  wife  did  watch  with  me,  as 
their  children  had  been  under  my  instructions  more  or  less 
since  their  citizenship  ;  "  baby  "  De  Bevoise,  Cora  and 
Charley  Sampson,  James  Roice,  were  ministering  angels  on 
earth  at  that  time  to  their  old  teacher.  But  the  church,  oh 
where,  oh  shame !  I  think  of  you  thus,  "  you  will  need 
Lazarus  to  dip  the  tip  of  his  finger  in  water  to  cool  your 
parched  tongue  in  that  hour."  Should  an  orthodox 
minister  chance  to  read  this  book,  I  trust  you  will  hold  the 
Union  Congregational  Church,  North  Brookfield,  Mass., 
amenable  to  your  discipline  for  this  breach  of  orthodox 
creed,  &c. 

Elmira  City. — At  the  close  of  the  institute  at  Elmira,  I 
joined  the  excursion  to  Watkins  Glen,  with  hundreds  of 
professors  and  teachers,   among   them   one   who  was  our 


31 

instructor,  and  made  plain  the  cause  of  this  wonderful  gorge 
in  nature ;  in  passing  under  one  of  the  high  cascades,  where 
evident  drenching,  at  the  least  misstep  was  inevitable,  Pres- 
ident McCosh  and  myself  passed  under,  when  the  shout  arose, 
"  You  will  be  Baptists  when  you  get  to  the  other  side." 
Just  emerging,  sprinkled,  said  I,  "  Gentlemen  shall  we  retain 
the  name  Baptist?"  At  7  o'clock  p.  M.,  a  party  started  on 
an  excursion  to  Niagara  Falls  ;  I  was  very  weary,  but  deter- 
mined on  seeing  the  falls  e'er  I  returned  to  my  home. 
Among  the  excursionists  to  the  falls  were  President  Northrup, 
President  Harris  of  the  National  Institute,  Abbot,  Super- 
intendent of  Schools,  Brooklyn ;  on  reaching  Buffalo,  12  m., 
I  left  said  company  to  go  to  West  Hamburg,  to  visit  at  John 
Smith's,  eldest  son  of  the  John  Smith  before  mentioned. 
As  I  had  the  day  previous  sent  him  a  postal  card  informing 
him  of  my  coming  and  asking  him  to  meet  me  at  Buffalo, 
upon  stepping  out  of  the  cars  upon  the  platform,  within  ten 
feet  of  me  stood  said  Smith,  and  then  waiting  for  the  next 
train  to  take  me  to  his  pleasant  home,  glad  indeed  to 
remove  my  cindered  apparel  and  cleanse  myself  of  the 
blackening  coal  dust — which  said  vicinity  has  more  than  its 
double  portion.  His  wife  had  a  nice  chicken  breakfast 
waiting  our  coming,  of  which  I  partook  very  sparingly,  say- 
ing, "you  will  please  excuse  me  from  everything  of  whatever 
name  or  nature,  but  sleep,  that  great  restorer,  twin  sister  to 
death,  and  when  I  emerge  from  that  I'll  visit,  to  your  heart's 
satiety.  Thus,  good  morning,"  and  I  went  to  my  room  for 
said  repose,  pledging  them  not  to  call  me,  but  let  me  ap- 
pear, when  fit  thus  to  do. 

The  day  was  near  its  close  before  I  could  really  force  to 
dress,  which  was  arrested  on  throwing  open  the  blind ;  the 
broad  front  view,  not  thirty  rods  from  my  room  lay  a  part 
of  Lake  Erie.  Readers,  there  were  more  than  forty,  would  not 
count  the  schooners,  steamboats,  sailboats,  and  whatever 
plies  said  lake  in  my  broad  view,  each  hurrying  to  and  fro, 
with  the  rapidity  of  a  dove,  and  as  noiselessly,  to  me.  ( That's 
a  schooner  I  Oh,  William,  your  noble,  manly  figure,  with  mind 
so  thoroughly  versed  in  learning,  ready,  and  in  the  vineyard 
inparting  of  the  abundance  thereof.)     Just  for  a  rest,  with 


32 

uncle's  schooner,  with  pleasure  sail,  on  the  lake  for  Toledo, 
when,  oh! !  that  treacherous  sand  bank  stops  the  schooner. 
"William  and  uncle  swim  for  the  shore.  It's  too  much  for 
William,  and  e'er  eight  and  forty  hours  are  numbered,  the 
word  goes  forth,  the  remains  of  Wrilliam  Tyler  will  be  for- 
warded to  Capt.  Roderick  Williston,  Sandusky  City,  Ohio, 
in  next  sailboat.  "William,  that's  not  the  schooner  and  sail- 
boat I  see, — I  know ! ! !) 

Cousin  and  wife  coming  along  under  the  window,  saying, 
"  We  hear  you."     "  I  am  glad  to  have  something  that  will 
make  you  seem  natural  (talking  to  myself) ;  wife,  and  I  have 
been  saying  we   should  not  suppose  anything  but  death 
could  have  changed  you  so,  and  all  from  that  accursed  set 
of  ball  players."     In  the  space  of  forty-eight  hours  more  we 
are  standing  at  Niagara  Falls,  on  Canada  side ;  dine  at  the 
Clifton  House.     Next  morning  are  breakfasting  at  Michigan 
Hotel,  Detroit,  with  his  son,  Eugene  Smith,  eye  and  ear  M.  D. 
Next  morning  I  am  seated  in  the   medical  chair  in  his  in- 
firmary, and   with   focus,  &c.     Dr.  Smith  says,  "  Tour  optic 
nerve  has  been  injured.     You  must  take  the  greatest  care 
and    caution,    and    never  overtask    yourself   in  any   way ; 
you  are  liable  to  be  stone  blind,  from  which  you  could  never 
be  restored.     Have  you  ever  received   anything  from  that 
'  street  nuisance   company,  &c.'  to  help  you  along  in  your 
sickness  and  may  be  coming  want?"    "Not  one  cent."   Then 
(there   being   several  M.  D.s  present)  the  whole  ball  club 
blow  and  effects  upon  me  was   rehearsed,  and  it  was  the 
unanimous  voice  of  all  present  "  that  such  treatment  as  the 
citizens  of  North  Brookfield,  Mass.,  had  thus  publicly  mani- 
fested, deserved  the   censure  and  contempt  of   all  civilized 
humanity."     Dr.  S.:  "  My  third  cousin  Hill  here  will  stay 
there  just  because  her  father  and  mother,  and  so  on,  always 
did.     Heavens !  I  would  run  from  that  town  if  I  had  nothing 
more  to  start  with  than  my  first  white   garment ;  but  Mrs. 
Hill  has  got  that  local  '  sticktewitiveness.'    She'll  stay  there 
'till  they  kill  her  outright."     The  doctor  fitted  for  me  a  pair 
of  pebble  glasses,  which  were  the  first  I  ever  wore. 

I  returned    home    after   nineteen   days  roving,  tired,  but 
filled  with  new  avenues  of  thought  and  pleasant  associations 


33 

and  scenes,  fitting  me  to  have  choice  treasures  of  thought 
ever  coining  forth  to  "while  away  this  aisle  of  time.  In  the 
fall  (November)  I  attended  the  Teachers'  County  Institute, 
at  Ware,  Mass.,  and  was  entertained  in  Dr.  Richardson's 
family.  Ob,  how  I  love  to  think  over  the  hours  spent  in 
that  beautiful  home !  For  every  moment  there,  new  life 
and  thought  ought  to  issue.  Dr.  Richardson  took  me  to  the 
depot  in  his  carriage.  He,  too,  was  in  manifest  anxiety  for 
me,  that  new  remedies  might  be  applied,  to  aid,  if  possible, 
in  averting  that  fearful  prospective  calamity  that  may  come 
from  that  "  ball  club  blow." 

The  winter  of  1873  and  1874  I  commenced  giving  private 
lessons  again,  and  glad,  indeed,  was  I  as  I  gained  strength, 
that  ray  memory  was  equal  with  it  as  of  old.  The  spring 
and  summer  of  1874  I  fitted  scholars  for  high  school  or 
preparatory  for  academies  from  home.  In  July,  1872,  I  at- 
tended the  National  Educational  Association,  in  Elmira, 
N.  T. — my  health  still  very  delicate.  That  meeting  of  the 
Association,  and  its  happy  reminiscences,  are  choice  treasures 
in  memory's  hall.  In  the  winter  of  1874  and  1875  I  had  but 
three  scholars,  teaching  book-keeping,  advanced  arithmetic, 
and  a  primary  scholar.  I  was  present  at  all  public  meetings 
that  my  health  would  admit,  as  reporter  ;  therefore,  reader,  I 
could  give  you  almost  verbatim  reports  of  every  town  meet- 
ing during  the  }-ear  and  more  ensuing.  Reader,  don't 
think,  for  a  moment,  I  entered  those  public  places  without 
escort  during  said  time.  I  had  Tho.  Ashby  introduce  me 
to  J.  Lombard,  janitor  and  constable  of  said  town,  whom  I 
addressed  as  follows  :  "  I  am  correspondent  so-and-so,  and, 
wishing  for  correct  statistics,  therefore  I  ask  you  to  give  me 
a  seat,  and  escort  me  to  said  platform,  and  from  the  same  at 
the  close  of  the  meeting,"  which  he  acceded  to,  ever  treat- 
ing me,  during  said  time  above  mentioned,  with  the  most 
decorous  politeness.  As  I  stated,  the  old  church  was  re- 
dedicated  October,  15th,  1874,  and  there  followed  a  general 
withdrawal  from  the  Union  Congregational  Church  of  its 
wealthiest  members — rejoining  and  joining  the  First  Con- 
gregational Church  leaving  (as  report  had  it)  not  twenty 
members. 


34 

Chas.  Duncan  having  been  heard  repeatedly  to  say,  "  Free- 
man Walker  was  the  meanest  man  he  ever  knew,  etc  "  ;  also 
a  remark  of  a  notable  gentleman  in  Southbridge  years  ago  : 
"  If  North  Brookfield  has  another  man  as  mean  as  Sam 
Skerry,  he  should  think  the  town  would  sink." 

Reader,  my  word  for  it  :  There  are,  in  said  town,  at  this 
time,  more  than  twenty  men  that  will  beat  these  two  gentle- 
men "  all  holler."  I  almost  imagine,  my  readers,  repeat- 
ing the  following  epitaph  found  chiselled  on  a  grave  stone  : 

"  There  is  a  calm  for  those  who  weep, 

A  rest  foi  weary  pilgrims  found ; 
They  softly  lie  and  sweetly  sleep 

Low  in  the  ground." 

Even  J.  Duncan,  for  whom  the  above  mentioned  had 
labored  arduously  to  save  for  him  "  said  insurance  blanket" — 
he  too,  in  less  than  sis  months  after,  would  not  purchase 
meal  of  said  Walker  for  a  length  of  time, 'giving  as  a  reason 
"  he  would  not  pay  for  twice  the  amount  of  meal  he  bought," 
etc.  The  Duncans  were  the  first  to  leave  the  Union  Con- 
gregational Church,  also  were  the  first  with  the  Walkers  in 
its  organization. 

I  think  I  am  through  with  incidents  foreign,  as  you  may 
think,  to  the  first  page  preface,  but  ere  this  enigma  is 
solved,  every  different  item  will  rind  its  place. 

And  for  your  special  amusement  I  will  here  pen  an  in- 
scription from  a  tombstone  in  East  Tennessee  : 

"  She  lived  a  life  of  virtue  and  died  of  the  cholera  morbus, 
caused  by  eating  green  fruit,  in  the  hope  of  a  blessed  im- 
mortality, at  the  early  age  of  21  years  7  months  and  16  days. 
Reader,  go  thou  and  do  likewise." 

Died  January  4th,  1874,  Dr.  Porter,  physician  in  the  town 
of  North  Brookfield  for  over  forty  years.  Skillful  and  hand- 
some, thoroughly  educated,  with  quick  perception  and  sen- 
sitiveness not  to  be  exceeded,  and  a  staunch  friend- of  mine, 
in  whose  family  I  found  rest  when  in  anguish  of  soul,  many 
times.  His  many  cutting  remarks  about  those  who  are 
now  in  rule  in  said  town  often^  come  up  before  me. 
And  when  both  of  us,  laboring  in  different  ways  for  well- 
merited  work,  received   abuse  in  diverse  ways,  after  fully 


35 

analyzing  our  maltreatment,  he  would  say,  "  Mrs:  Hill,  we 
shall  have  to  take  up  with  John  Nye's  motto,  '  they  will  do 
their  d — est,  any  how — -we  must  let  'em  quilt.'  "  The 
saying  is  terribly  coarse,  but  nevertheless  true  in  this  town. 
As  my  means  were  limited,  Doctor  P.  had  advised  me  to 
report  for  a  newspaper,  thus  paying  for  some  of  the  mental 
food  I  could  not  live  without.  It  was  months  before  I  could 
make  up  my  mind  to  do  this,  and  when  made  up  it  was 
brought  about  in  this  way.  After  one  of  those  Young  Men's 
Christian  Association  gatherings,  where  singing  and  reading 
and  repeating  are  continually  held  forth  till  the  nervous,  and 
frail  minded  are  in  ecstacies  of  joy  such  as  have  been  read 
and  talked  about,  the  pulse  is  high  and  a  glorious  revival 
is  aroused.  (Readers,  don't,  I  pray,  think  me  trilling 
with  sacred  things,  for  it's  far  from  me  ;  but  I  have  not 
one  particle  of  faith  in  that  mode  of  claiming  being  "new 
born.")  At  one  of  these  times  some  of  the  evangelists  who 
had  been  recipients  of  the  rich  products  in  our  midst,  in 
getting  into  the  stage  (evangelist)  remarks,  "It's  hard  leaving 
after  such  a  bountiful  soul-refreshing  jubilee  as  has  come  of 
our  labor,  here." 

In  the  stage,  their  ecstacies  alone  were  the  topic.  On  the 
train  still  comes  the  same,  and  more — did  you  ever  meet 
with  such  open,  liberal  hearted  people !  Thai's  enough  !  I 
had  heard  enough  ;  now  is  my  time  to  give  those  "evange- 
lists "  some  real  true  colors,  that  color  which  Omnipotence 
alone  can  change,  that  those  church  professors  have  made. 
Turning  my  head  sideway  to  them,  I  said  I  had  not  been 
permitted  to  enjoy  that  "soul  refreshing."  "Do  you  live 
there  ?"  "  Yes,  always ;  it's  my  native  place,  and  that  of  my 
fathers."  "  Pray  what  kept  you  away  ?"  "Two  reasons — the 
last  one,  I  seldom,  or  have  not  been  out  evenings  since  April, 
1872.  At  that  time  I  was  struck  with  a  ball  club  upon  the 
right  side  of  my  forehead,  just  above  the  temple,  causing  me 
to  have  concussion  of  the  brain.  My  life  was  in  a  dangerous 
state  for  a  length  of  time,  and  it  was  more  than  sis  months 
before  I  could  go  down  stairs,  having  to  hold  my  head  back- 
ward, otherwise  dizziness  and  nausea  was  the  inevitable, 
and  to  this  day,  when  weary,  the  same  in  less  degree  mani- 


36 

fests  itself.  "  Was  it  an  accidental  blow  ?"  Supposed  to  be 
so  ;  ball  playing  had  been  a  terror  in  the  streets  many,  many 
times  for  a  few  years  past,  or  since  the  great  increase  of 
business  in  the  "  big  shop,"  and  upon  that  beautiful  common 
front  of  the  First  Congregational  Church.  It  had  been  held 
by  law-abiding  citizens  a  great  and  dangerous  nuisance,  as 
horses  had  been  frightened  many  times,  and  balls  been 
thrown  through  carriage  windows,  and  people's  lives  before 
me  had  been  jeopardized,  but  escaping  without  serious 
injury.  My  injury  being  so  great,  I  was  under  direct 
physician's  care  for  weeks  and  months  before  I  could  work. 
Some  of  our  respectable  citizens  called  a  town  meeting  in 
September  to  do  something  for  me,  as  my  means  were 
limited,  and  health  apparently  ruined,  my  eyesight  especially 
most  injured  The  town  caused  printed  posters  to  be  placed 
in  legal  manner,  next  day  after  my  injury,  notifying  the  in- 
habitants that  ball  playing  was  prohibited,  it  being  a 
dangerous  nuisance  in  the  street.  "Any  one  upon  any  street 
hereafter  playing  said  game,  whoever  violates  this  warrant 
notice  will  suffer  the  penalty  of  the  law." 

Town  meeting  met  as  called,  and  prominent  church  mem- 
bers were  present,  many  of  whom  you  have  spoken  of  this 
morning.  I  will  mention  a  few  you  have  not  alluded  to, 
F.  Walker,  Augustus  Smith,  S.  Skerry,  C.  E.  Jenks,  G.  C. 
Lincoln,  Eras.  Hill,  said  gentlemen  having  labored  busily 
during  the  seven  days  previous  to  bring  out  citizens  to  vote 
against  my  having  any  remunerative  aid.  As  the  town  was 
not  holden,  the  nuisance  not  being  in  the  street  24  hours  at  a 
time,  and  it  would  not  be  safe  for  the  town  to  remunerate 
such  accidents,  &c.  Thus  the  meeting  dissolved,  and  but 
two  members  of  the  Union  Congregational  Church,  of  which 
I  am  member,  gave  me  so  much  as  the  cup  of  "cold  water." 
Mr.  Do  Bevoise  and  wife  watched  one  night  with  me  ;  Mrs. 
Hnston  and  Emma  Lane  labored  for  me,  and  Mrs.  Freeman 
Walker  of  the  Union  Church.  "  There  is  something  very 
strange  about  that,"— I  think  so,  too.  Do  you  think  that 
Christ  will  say  to  those  soul  refreshed  brothers  and  sisters, 
and  the  "new  called"  (it  was  at  this  very  time  "great 
outpouring,"  meetings  were  held  seven  days  in  the  week), 


37 

"  When  I  was  sick  ye  administered  unto  me  "  ?  "I  know  well 
from  your  appearance  there  is  some  other  reason "  (his 
dander  icell  up).  You  will  remember  I  told  you  I  I  ad 
two  reasons,  &c,  but,  sir,  your  mind  being  in  biblical 
lore,  will  you  please  repeat  to  me  the  passage  of  Scrip- 
ture where  Christ  gives  an  exceptional  rule.  "  Madam,  you 
do  not  manifest  a  Christian  spirit  in  your  conversation." 
"  Perhaps  not.  Your  spirit  has  changed  somewhat  within 
the  past  few  minutes."  "Madam,  I  wish  this  talk  to  end 
right  here."  "  Very  well,  sir  ;  but  I  shall  avail  myself  of 
giving  you  a  verbal  looking  glass.  (All  eyes  round  about  us 
were  on  us,  some  highly  amused,  and  two  frail  sisters  that 
had  been  taking  that  "  soul  refreshing  "  were  in  horror ). 
You,  sir,  are  angered  as  quickly  as  any  one.  "When  you 
entered  the  stage  your  cup  of  happiness  seemed  bubbling 
over,  and  my  opinion  is,  it  was  the  effects  of  a  good  break- 
fast and  night's  rest,  that  your  physique  is  enjoying  without 
break  or  expense.  And  without  doubt  your  purse  is  filled 
also  for  such  unnecesary  '  work '  (as  you  term  it)  that  keeps 
a  hobby  for  people  thus  provided  for,  from  performing'  an 
act  that  will  meet  them  for  the  kingdom.  The  spirit,  look, 
cut  of  your  jib,  shows  you  are  not  what  you  profess.  I  am 
through." 

At  home,  next  day,  at  an  old  acquaintance,  whose 
husband  had  died  not  long  before,  when  she  came  into  the 
room — "You  here!  from  what  I  heard  of  you  on  the  cars 
yesterday,  I  think  the  place  for  you  is  the  insane  hospital ; 
and  some  one  who  heard  what  you  said,  hoped  Mr.  Evan- 
gelist would  have  you  put  there."     I  passed  out. 

Meeting  the  president  of  the  Young  Men's  Christian  As- 
sociation, I  said  (feeling  somewhat  excited)  :  "I  was  going 
to  ask  you  something  about  scholars  this  coming  winter 
that  I  may  keep  myselr  from  dire  want  ere  long." 

President :  "  Nobody  will  care  whether  you  come  to  want 
'ere  long  '  or  oiow,  if  you  are  going  to  talk  as  you  did  on 
the  cars,  &c.  (one  of  the  sisters  living  near  him).  It  is  the 
general  opinion  you  ought  to  be  sent  to  the  insane  hospital." 
What  purely  devilish  results  comes  of  these  "  soul  refresh- 
ings ;"  how  quick  it  springeth  up!  Why  the  devil's  choir 
those  evangelists  made  here  are  now  chanting  loud  I! 


38 

I  passed  on  my  way  ;   said  president  his  way. 

But,  readers,  the  above  gave  me  the  backbone  to  go  to 
town  meetings,  &c,  to  report  for  a  newspaper,  but  I  have 
never  been  to  report  from  those  refreshing  meetings.  I  will 
here  state  that  the  First  Congregationalist  Church  attempted 
to  drive  out  at  this  time  a  singer  (and  one  of  the  best)  from 
the  choir ;  to  effect  it  every  singer,  forty  more  or  less,  left 
the  choir  on  Sabbath,  and  such  a  "high  "  as  that  was  can- 
not be  equalled.  I'll  guarantee — do  your  best.  You  will 
remember  the  year  is  1874,  and  report  has  it  that  T.  C. 
Bates  made  application  (or  some  sign)  he  would  join  the 
Masons,  and  at  the  meeting  in  Brookfield  his  desire  was  re- 
fused by  the  "  black  ball."  Bates  having  the  "  sticktewitive- 
ness  and  goaheditiveness :'  (as  Josh  Billings  tells  about)  he 
enters  the  Queen's  dominions,  and,  while  there,  is  initiated  a 
mason,  returns  to  North  Brookfield,  "  meeting  upon  the 
level  and  parting  upon  the  square."  Oh  what  words  of 
blissful  meaning  those  words  masonic  are.  Thus  I  hope 
the  reader  will  follow  those  above  mentioned  characteristics, 
and  apply  them  to  the  individuals  in  this  book  who  will  show 
legal  heirship  to  them. 

As  I  have  stated  before,  the  town  was  pledged  to  have 
the  railroad  built  and  fully  equipped  with  rolling  stock  for  the 
sum  of  $100,000,  by  the  glass  and  crockery  ware  drummer. 
He  says,  if  we  find,  or  it  can  be  proved,  said  railroad,  etc., 
cannot  be  built  and  stocked  for  the  sum  above  mentioued, 
he  should  go  against  it  as  strong  as  any  other  man!!!  I 
will  here  pen,  for  the  benefit  ol  the  reader,  "  Engineer 
Keith's  report  of  the  railroad  route  through  the  Tyler  farm, 
the  maximum  grade  being  116  feet  per  mile,  terminus  on 
the  King  and  Bacheller  lot ; "  but  readers,  there1  is  a  mile 
rise  in  said  route,  "report  has  it,"  that  is  over  300  feet, 
together*  with  curves«necessary  to  go  through  said  farm  (in 
order  to  save  a  longer  cut,  and  fill  through  the  Kimball 
worthless  hill  and  vale),  thus  crossing  the  road  between 
Hill  and  Tyler  farm  ;  removing  heavy  stone  walls  upon 
Tyler's  farm  ;  cutting  through  mowings  ;  one  cut  of  14  feet; 
said  wall  and  part  of  the  earth  taken  to  help  fill  what  was 
called  by  the  "  gang  "  bottomless  mud-hole  in  the  Kimball 


39 

swamp,  and  then  a  fill  of  16  feet  over  soil  four  and  five 
feet  deep,  and  spoiling  valuable  building  lots,  and  swallow- 
ing up  over  six  acres  of  said  farm,  leaving  small,  not  get- 
atable  lots,  and  other  portions  in  trapezurns,  trapezoids, 
obtuse  and  acute  angles,  in  other  words,  a  direct  curve  line 
from  southeast  to  northwest,  with  a  rise- that,  demands  two 
engines'  power  to  get  (with  freight,  &c.,)  thr.uigh  the  Tyler 
farm,  in  order  to  have  the  depot  where  it  is  now  located  for 
special  accommodations  of  the  "  big  shop  "  and  stores. 

Few  business  men  indeed  shall  we  get  to  come  into  town  to 
compete  with  those  stores  and  "  big  shop." 

A.  &  H.  Bacheller  &  Co.  now  take  stock  to  the  amount  of 
13,000  witli  the  depot  located  within  ten  rods  of  the  "  big- 
shop."  The  track  crossing  at  the  junction  of  Elm  and 
School  streets,  on  the  main  road  without  expense  to  said 
firm,  but  to  lay  straight  track  side  of  road  bed.  Which 
proceedings  the  County  Commissioner  came  and  complied 
with,  April  28th,  1876.  Said  railroad,  the  directors  dedi- 
cated January  1st,  1876.  As  I  had  been  most  insolently 
refused  the  right  of  a  disinterested  appraisal  of  my  land  sur- 
veyed, and  set  off  for  said  railroad,  before  the  taking  of  the 
same,  necessitating  my  calling  on  the  County  Commissioner 
in  said  July,  and  it  pleased  said  "  honorable  body,"  to  ap- 
point the  15th  day  of  October,  to  view  the  same.  The  rail- 
road work  commenced  in  said  July  above  mentioned  in 
different  sections  on  the  Tyler  farm,  being  such  that  the 
railroad  bed  upon  said  farm  was  first  completed.  Thus  in 
August  the  town  road  (dividing  my  land)  was  filled  up  seven 
feet  high,  depriving  me  of  my  direct  access  to  said  land  to 
remove  my  crops,  &c.  Before  the  "  gang  "  commenced  fill- 
ing up  said  road  I  protested,  forbiding  its  being  done  to  the 
selectmen,  railroad  president  and  directors — repeating  to 
said  "  Bonum,"  the  statute  law  of  taking  and  crossing  public 
highways  as  County  Commissioners  may  direct,  etc.  Their 
contemptuous  disregard  to  my  every  request  must  be  appar- 
ent to  the  reader.  I  applied  repeatedly  to  G.  C.  Lincoln, 
(a  Selectman,)  to  assist  me  in  my  effort  for  legal  rights. 
Lincoln  ;  "What  will  be  the  use?  you  only  hurt  yourself  in 
the  estimation  of  the  railroad  men  in  thus  demanding  these 


40 

frivolous  exactions  of  the  law,  and  my  advice  to  you  is  to 
hofd  3-our  tongue."  I  said,  "Mr.  Lincoln,  how  long  would  you 
hold  on  to  your  tongue  if  a  poor  boy  in  his  starving  want 
should  take  a  lew  cents  or  pair  of  stockings  from  your  public 
store,"  <tc?  Lincoln :  "  That's  a  different  thing."  "  Very  true 
sir,  and  very  small  importance  compared  with  my  wholesale 
robbery.  I  know  well  what  your  legal  investigation  of  the 
poor  boy,  and  your  sentence  to  reform  school  would  be." 

The  work  lucnt  on,  laiv  or  no  law.  The  disqualified  ap- 
praisers labored,  figured,  offering  other  claimants  different 
assessments,  eventually  affecting  a  settlement  with  all  but 
five,  only  a  few  days  previous  to  the  15th  of  October  ;  they 
too  called  for  County  Commissioner  to  appraise,  said  five, 
adroitly  succeeding  with  Commissioners  in  getting  theirs 
appraised  through  not  applying  "  till  past  the  last  watch," 
the  Friday  previous  to  the  15th  of  October. 

Report  has  it  some  of  the  Directors  had  many  interviews 
with  Commissioner,  (which  I  hope  will  yet  be  explained,) 
enabling  said  body  to  have  profile,  perhaps,  of  parties,  &c, 
through  the  Directors'  microscope. 

October  loth,  1875,  9  o'clock  A.  M. — The  County  Commis- 
sioners met  at  my  residence  (by  special  request),  also  an 
eminent  lawyer  from  Worcester  on  my  part  and  for  the  town 
four  or  five  railroad  defendants.  Prominent  among  them 
was  advisory  "  W,"  one  whom  I  had  objected  to  in  writing, 
before  mentioned,  as  a  disqualified  appraiser,  said  railroad 
company  refusing  to  hear  my  prayer,  &c,  thus  compelling 
me  to  call  the  County  Commissioners.  And  at  this  eleventh 
hour,  (the  railroad  bed  having  been  built  through  my  land 
weeks  previous)  the  coming  of  these  legal  three  of  the 
county  board,  to  have  F.  Walker  thrust  upon  me  (as  defense 
for  the  railroad)  in  my  own  house,  was,  reader,  crowning 
their  illegal  traffic  with  outrageous  insult.  The  gentlemen 
being  seated,  I  addressed  them  thus:  "Gentlemen, — I  invited 
you  at  this  time  to  my  residence  for  the  hearing  of  my  claim 
for  which  you  have  now  convened,  to  avoid  the  public  noto- 
riety which  would  be  had  this  meeting  been  in  Town  Hall." 
Turning  to  F.  Walker  :  "I  am  surprised,  sir,  at  your  presence 


41 

here."  Walker  :  "I  am  here  officially,  madam."  I  passed  out 
into  my  little  room,  front  (as  it  were  to  take  on  force) ;  com- 
ing in,  facing  the  audience,  whom  I  addressed  thus:  "Gentle- 
men, F.  "Walker  has  for  the  last  few  years  been  my  notorious 
enemy,  and  an  enemy  I  have  reasons  to  loathe  as  I  would 
Satan  himself,  and,  gentlemen,  if  you  permit  Walker  to  re- 
main here  in  my  house,  I  shall  leave  it  at  once."  V.  Taft, 
chairman  of  the  commissioners,  rose  and  said,  "  We  will  ad- 
journ for  the  purpose  of  viewing  your  land  taken,&c,  and  then 
we  will  be  prepared  for  further  purposes,"  &c.  I  just  wept. 
My  counsel  present  said  to  me,  "  It's  not  necessary  for  you 
to  go  down  with  us,  as  it  rains  ;  you  had  better  not."  Fur- 
nishing the  three  gentlemen  with  umbrellas,  they  set  off, 
Walker  following. 

During  their  absence,  I  resolutely  bestirred  myself  prepar- 
ing every  minutiae  for  dinner.  My  table  was  laid  early  after 
breakfast,  and  all  preparations  duly  made  for  a  sumptuous 
dinner  for  said  gentlemen.  I  will  alsoproceedto  show  my  care- 
ful preparations  by  engaging  at  Chas.  Bush's  livery  stable  his 
best  span  and  coach,  to  convey  said  honorable  body  to  and 
from  my  residence  from  depot,  as  case  required,  charging 
said  Bush  not  to  fail  on  their  arrival  to  take  the  select  body 
as  soon  as  the  legal  ceremony  of  calling  said  meeting  to 
order  in  the  Town  Hall,  and  adjournment  to  my  residence,  &c. 
Saying  to  Bush,  "  For  all  extras,  pains,  and  courtesy,  &c,  I 
pledge  you  I  will  pay,  as  well  as  your  regular  fee,  at  the  close 
of  said  day."  Bush  agreed  to  the  same.  Header,  imagine 
my  astonishment;  some  15  minutes  in  advance  of  said  time, 
my  bell  rang,  and  at  the  door  I  met  my  counsel's  partner, 
and  after  due  ceremony,  I  said  to  him  "  I  had  coach  and 
driver  waiting  for  your  honorable  body  when  they  should 
come  out  of  the  Hall."  Esquire:  "  I  saw  no  such  prospect  " 
there  ;  and  soon  came  the  deputized  gentlemen  en  masse, 
no  coach  and  span  I  After  all  my  pre-arrangements,  those 
gentlemen  were  footing  it  just  like  us  poor  "  clod  hopping  " 
mortals.  Upon  return  of  said  legal  body,  report  had  it.  F. 
Walker  was  coming  back  into  the  house,  whereupon  the 
chairman  of  said  body  told  "  W."  he  must  not.  W.  says: 
"  Mrs.  Hill's  awful  temper  in  this  matter  must  be  subdued." 


42 

Commissioner  :  "  I  think,  sir,  your  temper  is  decidedly  in 
advance  of  Mrs.  Hill,  and  I  repeat,  you  must  not  go  again 
into  Mrs.  Hill's  house."     It  was  then  raining  hard. 

The  meeting  being  in  order,  I  was  called  on  to  state  my 
case  in  full,  &c,  viz.  :  In  the  first  place,  the  straight  railroad 
route  would  be  through  Kimball's  hill ;  then  it  would  not 
have  crossed  my  first  mowing — at  the  most  it  would  take  but 
a  small  corner  off  my  lower  mowing  ;  but  to  save  a  deeper 
cut,  and  longer  fill,  through  the  worthless  land  above  de- 
scribed, they  have  ruined  my  first  mowing  from  ever  having 
a  building  upon  it,  which  I  had  designed  to  build ;  and  my 
plans  were  near  being  consummated ;  and  have  destroyed 
two  other  building  lots,  which  I  have  been  urged  repeatedly 
to  sell.  My  mowing  lots  have  been  very  valuable  on  account 
of  the  income  of  grass  to  cut,  which  I  have  sold  standing  re- 
peatedly for  $60,  $75  and  $85  per  year.  They  have  also  re- 
moved heavy  stone  walls,  and  placed  as  a  boundary  line,  a 
trail  fence,  which,  as  the  neighbors  and  other  farming  men 
say,  "  a  good-sized  two-year  old  could  get  through  between 
the  boards,  and  a  medium  push  would  level  the  whole  line." 
I  had  also  to  cut  thirty-nine  valuable  trees.  They  gave  me 
no  chance  to  remove  soil.  They  also  filled  up  the  highway, 
dividing  my  land,  seven  feet,  without  legal  advice  and  against 
my  remonstrance.  The  filling  as  it  now  stands  is  dangerous, 
and  it  will  not  be  possible  to  bring  up  a  load  without  more 
than  twice  the  power  before  used. 

There  are  two  acres  cut  off  in  my  lower  mowing — being 
surrounded  by  three  steep,  high  grades,  thus  reducing  the 
value  of  the  same  in  every  way.  The  corner  cut  off  in  my 
first  mowing,  which  is  bounded  by  large  walnut  and  ash  trees, 
I  have  no  access  to.  Mr.  Cram,  the  builder  of  the  railroad, 
and  Doty,  both  told  me  to  demand  a  crossing  at  this  place' 
(notwithstanding  the  corner  contains,  as  you  see,  but  few  rods 
of  land),  as  they  could  make  there  a  crossing,  the  expense 
of  which,  to  them,  would  be  less  than  five  dollars.  I  made 
such  demand,  and  it  has  been  thus  far  refused. 

Also  I  demanded  a  wide  driveway,  crossing  from  my  wal- 
nut grove  lot  over  said  railroad,  leading  into  my  lower  mow- 
ing ;  its  course  to  be  from  the  bars  that  led  from  the  above 


43 

grove  lot  in  said  mowing — said  opening  having  been  there 
more  than  fifty  years.  The  railroad  company  refusing  this 
application,  you  must  have  noticed  the  acute  angle  of  mow- 
ing left  with  the  heavy  wall,  and  an  acre  of  land  there  being 
surrounded,  and  lying  in  such  shape,  is  but  little  better  than 
lost  to  me.  My  income  from  fruit,  nuts,  grass,  &c,  has 
given  me  yearly  from  $100  to  $125.  Now  the  railroad  has 
laid  open  for  wholesale  theft  from  the  "rambling  hordes" 
that  work  in  that  "big  shop1' ;  the  products  which  are  not 
already  in  a  similar  "crib"  will  be  very  small  in  prospective 
compared  with  the  past.  In  conclusion,  that  railroad,  as  it 
is  built  through  my  seven  and  a  half  acres  of  valuable  land, 
in  curve  line  from  northeast  to  southwest,  takes  therefrom 
one  and  a  half  acres,  more  or  less. 

Commissioner :  "  "What  assessment  did  the  directors 
figure?"  Alden  Bacheller,  hastily  replying — "  We  with- 
draw that."  Commissioner:  "  What  did  they  estimate?"  (I 
must  say,  reader,  I  had  an  internal  ironical  smile,  being  inter- 
preted :  you  are  going  to  make  it  the  "gauge"  for  your  esti- 
mate?) Nevertheless,  I  promptly  informed  them,  adding: 
"  On  my  brother's  claim  at  the  homestead  they  made  more 
than  double  the  assessment,  and  not  injured  one-tenth  as 
bad  as  myself."  And  the  doctor's  land  (I  will  here  state  Dr. 
Tyler  is  my  own  full-blooded  brother,  being  eight  years  my 
senior  in  this  "  mundane  sphere")  was  benefitted  niany,  many 
hundreds  of  dollars,  as  is  evident  to  be  seen  by  all  in  the 
work  and  back  boundary  it  has  given  him.  Readers,  do  not 
think  my  brother's  land  was  overestimated ;  for  it 's  far  from 
that ! !  ! 

I  will  here  pen  (the  doctor's  land  was  the  land  I 
asked  for  ;  could  I  have  my  choice,  &c,  in  the  division  of  my 
father's  estate.  And  bonum  magnum  Nye  was  playing 
the  same  game  then,  that  he  is  to-day  against  me).  I 
should  think  Freeman  Walker  had  spent  a  fortnight,  more 
or  less,  to  adjudicate  Lewis  Whiting's  claim.  The  different 
assessment  of  which  I  have  stated,  also  stating  more  than  half 
of  said  Whiting's  land,  my  father  sold  him  at  a  price  some 
20  years  since.  Being  through,  the  defendants  were  called 
upon   (said  gentlemen  had  not  a  word  to  say).      The  glance 


u 

of  my  eye  upon  B.  M.  Nye — with  small  "  pig  eyes,"  was  seen 
by  me, — I'll  arrange  this  with  the  commissioners  without  au- 
dience. Header,  I  clearly  foresaw  his  arranged  plot.  A  few 
words  from  the  legal  men  present,  and  said  commissioners 
then  adjourned  to  the  Town  Hall,  at  1  o'clock,  p.m.,  to  finish 
their  adjourned  meeting  of  the  week  previous.  ...  I 
then  extended  my  invitations  to  said  body  to  have  dinner 
with  me,  which  was  ready  waiting.  The  flavor  thereof  they 
could  not  mistake.  B.  M.  Nye  thought  it  not  best,  and,  of 
course,  they  must  refuse  on  account  of  so  much  business, 
<fec.  .  .  .  The  gentlemen  leaving,  the  lawyer  taking  the 
noon  train,  I  verbally  regretted  the  non-appearance  of  the 
hired  coach  for  their  special  conveyance,  the  reason  why  I 
could  not  conceive.  "Therefore,  you  will  please  excuse  me, 
for,  gentlemen,  when  I  asked  you  this  favor  to  come  to  this 
house  for  a  hearing,  and  you  courteously  complied,  I  forth- 
with engaged  coach  and  driver  to  wait  on  you  here  and  back, 
and  when  I  learn  the  reason  said  coach  was  not  here  I  will 
write  you.  Could  those  men  have  stepped  out  then  and 
there  into  an  anteroom  and  assessed  my  land  damage,  I  have 
not  one  doubt  but  it  would  leave  been  satisfactory  to  me. 
Reader,  Nye  knew  well  the  part  to  play,  which  will  be  con- 
cluded in  subsequent  pages. 

To  make  this  book  more  concise,  I  will  here  say,  the  next 
morning  I  went  to  said  livery  stables,  to  learn  the  cause  of 
said  engagement  not  being  fulfilled.  Said  proprietor  reply- 
ing, "  I  forgot  all  about  it,  honestly,  and  went  away  in  the 
morning  early — had  I  been  at  home,  it  would  have  come  up, 
and  I  would  have  been  on  hand  as  agreed."  Selah. 

You  have  read  of  the  serpent  on  the  rock  ;  he  had  crawled 
off,  and  was  down  in  the  midst — my  interpretation  of  said 
neglect. 

Within  a  few  days  I  dispatched  four  letters  to  the  four 
legal  gentlemen  interested,  informing  them  it  was  owing  to 
the  treacherous  memory  of  said  "livery  stable  man,"  and  his 
absence  from  home  said  day,  was  the  reason,  the  coach 
hired  was  not  at  their  service  said  15th  day  of  October,  1875. 

Respectful  ly, 

E.  R.  Hill. 


45 

Adjourned  Town    Meeting — March   1st,   1875, 

1  o'clock  P.M. 

Hon.  C.  Adams,  Jr.,  in  behalf  of  the  Committee  on  Finance: 
The  committee  chosen  by  the  town  on  the  24th  day  of 
January  last,  to  act  with  your  treasurer  in  negotiating  a 
loan  of  ninety  thousand  dollars,  and  pay  the  subscription  of 
the  town  and  the  stock  of  the  North  Brookfield  Railroad 
Company,  beg  leave  to  report  they  have  attended  to  that 
service  by  enquiring  into  the  state  of  the  money  market  as 
they  have  had  opportunity.  They  find  the  present  a  very 
favorable  time  for  negotiating  a  loan  of  any  kind  where  the 
security  is  good.  Money  can  be  had  at  a  lower  rate  now 
than  at  any  time  for  several  years  past,  especially  on  'short 
time,  lenders  preferring  the  shortest  loans  hoping  and  ex- 
pecting to  obtain  much  higher  rates  when  their  short  invest- 
ments mature.  The  ordinary  rates'at  which  savings  banks 
are  lending  money  at  a  term  of  years  is  about  seven  per 
cent.,  but  trustees  and  others  knowing  changes  of  trust  and 
sinking  funds  are  letting  money  §}2  per  cent,  for  a  term  of 
years.  Just  now  the  supply  is  greater  than  the  demand  afc. 
that  rate,  and  it  is  possible  the  rate  may  go  lower,  but  a 
revival  of  business,  or  even  a  prospect  of  it,  would  be  sure 
to  carry  it  higher.  We  believe  it  would  be  safest  for  the 
town  to  secure  its  loan  very  soon.  We  think  the  rate  could 
not  now  be  over  Q>\  per  cent.,  and  possibly  it  could  be  ob- 
tained at  a  fraction  lower.  This  would  or  might  depend  on 
the  time  on  which  the  money  is  wanted. 

The  committee  would  recommend  that  the  town  decide  by 
vote  how  soon  they  will  begin  to  pay  off  the  loan,  and  how 
much  they  will  pay  each  year,  and  also  vote  the  rate  of  in- 
terest paid  shall  not  exceed  7  per  cent,  semi-annually  ;  also 
authorize  their  agents,  whoever  they  may  be,  to  negotiate 
the  loan  at  an  early  day,  and  at  the  lowest  possible  rate. 
North  Brookfield,  Feb.  27, 1875. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

Charles  Adams,  Jr., 

B.  Nye, 

S.  S.  Edmunds, 

Committee. 


46 

Voted  to  lay  the  foregoing  report  upon  the  table,  to  be 
taken  up  at  an  adjourned  meeting. 

The  Directors  made  an  informal  report  which  was  not  in- 
tended for  record  or  filing.  Voted  to  adjourn  this  meeting 
until  three  weeks  from  to-day,  March  22d,  1877,  at  one 
o'clock  p.  M. 

Hiram  Knight, 

Town  Clerk. 

Adjourned  Railroad  town  meeting,  March  22d,  1875,  at 
one  o'clock  p.m.;  said  meeting  adjourned  to  Monday,  April 
5th,  1875,  at  two  o'clock,  p.m.  Said  meeting  adjourned  to 
Monday,  April  26th,  1875,  at  two  o'clock  p.m. 

Adjourned  Railroad  meeting,  April  2Gth,  1875,  two  o'clock 
P.M. — B.  Nye,  President  of  the  N.  B.  R.  R.  Co.,  verbally  re- 
ported that  the  directors  are  not  fully  prepared  to  report  to- 
day, and  made  a  motion  to  adjourn  for  one  week,  until  Mon- 
day, May  3d,  1875,  at  two  o'clock  p.m. 

Voted  in  the  affirmative. 

Town  Meeting,  June  7th,  1875. 

At  town  meeting,  June  7th,  1875,  the  discussions  for  and 
against  railroads  were  sharp  and  bitter,  and  arguments  that 
the  surveyed  railroads  would  cost  from  one-third  to  one-half 
more  than  the  town  subscribed,  according  to  the  railroad 
statistics  read,  Bates  blowed  off  the  following  : 

"  If  it  can  be  proven  that  the  railroad  between  North  and 
East  Brookfield  cannot  be  built  and  fully  equipped  for 
$100,000,  I  shall  go  against  it  as  strong  as  any  other  man 
here.  These  imaginary  bugbears  are  being  brought  forward 
to  dampen  and  prevent  this  great  enterprise  from  being  con- 
summated. I  pledge  to  you,  citizens,  again,  said  road  can 
and  will  be  built,  fully  equipped  with  rolling  stock,  within 
the  sum  of  $100,000."     Roars  of  cheers  T\  ! 

Therefore,  the  motion  made  by  T.  C.  Bates,  That  our 
town  treasurer  be  authorized  and  instructed  to  borrow  the 
sum  of  nine  thousand  dollars  ($9,000),  and  pay  the  same  to 
the  treasurer  of  the  North  Brookfield  Railroad  Company,  as 
ten  per  cent,  assessment  on  the  subscription  of  ninety  thou- 


47 

sand  dollars  by  Hie  town  of  North  Brookfield  to  the  capital 
stock  of  the  North  Brookfield  Railroad  Company. 

Carried  by  a  large  majority. 

Voted  to  adjourn  to  June  14th,  1875,  at  10  o'clock,  a.  m. 

Adjourned  Town  Meeting,  June  14th,  1875. 

Dr.  Tyler,  Chairman  of  the  Board  of  selectmen,  addressed 
the  citizens  as  follows  : 

"  The  town  has  saddled  a  debt  on  their  back  of  $90,000 
for  the  '  baby,'  and  most  likely  before  the  young  one  can  go 
alone  we  shall  be  called  on  for  one-third  or  one  half  as  much 
more  for  its  supplies.  I  am  against  my  children  and  children's 
children — [the  doctor  has  not  a  child,  nor  never  had] — being 
cursed  with  this  cumbrous  debt;  and  I  move  that  the  town 
pay  said  $90,000  in  ten  annual  instalments." 

This  was  a  set-back  to  the  railroad  men.  Angus  Smith, 
J.  F.  Hebard,  Alden  and  Ezra  Bacheller,  Timothy  Clark,  in 
fact,  all  of  the  rabid  railroad  men  opposed  Dr.  Tyler's  mo- 
tion unrelentingly.  Said  men  proposing  to  pay  only  the 
interest  on  the  loan  for  five  or  ten  years;  after  that,  $1,500 
per  year. 

The  motion  of  Dr.  Tyler  was  carried. 

It  is  but  justice  to  the  parties  who  have  caused  this  illegal 
debt  to  be  paid  in  ten  annual  installments,  four-fifths  of 
whom  were  against  the  building  of  said  road  (thus  most  con- 
clusively proving  the  illegality  of  the  former  vote.)  The 
lively  lamentation  of  those  railroad  men  upon  prospective 
taxation  was  sarcastically  amusing  to  me.  Those  very  men, 
who  are  going  to  be  recipients  of  cheap  freight,  <fec. ;  and 
had  demanded,  with  all  the  force  they  could  bring,  that  the 
railroad  must  be  built,  or  I  can't  do  business  here.  Oh, 
where  else  could  be  found  such  "  Solomons  !" 

June  14th,  1875. 

Voted,  on  motion  of  Hon.  Chas.  Adams,  Jr.,  "  That  the 
treasurer  be  and  he  is  hereby  authorized  and  directed  to 
borrow  of  the  commonwealth  of  Massachusetts,  or  of  some 


48 

other  party  or  parties,  on  the  credit  of  the  town,  a  sum  not 
exceeding  ninety  thousand  dollars  in  amount,  as  may  be  re- 
quired by  the  directors,  and  to  give  therefor  the  notes  or 
bonds  of  the  town,  approved  by  the  selectmen,  payable 
nine  thousand  dollars  each  year,  commencing  with  the 
present  year  and  ending  with  the  year  1884,  both  inclusive, 
bearing  interest  at  a  rate  not  exceeding  seven  per  cent.  (7%) 
annually,  paj^able  semi-annually,  for  the  purpose  of  paying 
the  subscription  of  the  town  to  the  capital  stock  of  the 
North  Brookfield  Railroad  Company,  made  agreeably  to 
the  vote  of  the  town  passed  on  the  twenty-ninth  day  of 
January,  1875. 

Voted  to  adjourn  for  three  weeks  from  to-day  (July  5th, 
1875)  at  one  o'clock  p.  m. 

Hiram  Knight,  Town  Clerk. 

Records  of  town  meeting  held  June  14th,  1875,  under  a 
new  warrant : 

Voted,  under  Article  2,  That  the  town  raise  by  taxation 
the  present  year  nine  thousand  dollars,  for  the  purpose  con- 
templated in  the  warrant,  to  wit,  to  pay  the  amount  which 
the  town  authorized  the  treasurer  to  borrow  June  7th, 
1875,  and  act  thereon. 

Article  3d.  Voted  that  the  town  raise  by  taxation  the 
present  year  the  sum  of  twenty-five  hundred  dollars  to  pay 
interest  on  money  that  has  been  and  may  be  borrowed  to 
pay  for  the  railroad.     Voted  to  dissolve  this  meeting. 

Hiram  Knight,  Town  Clerk. 

July  5th,  1875. 
Adjourned  railroad  meeting  opened  at  one  o'clock  P.  M. 
Voted  to  dissolve  this  meeting. 

H.  Knight,  Town  Clerk. 

July,  1875,  George  C.  Cram  contracted  to  build  said  rail- 
road for  the  sum  of  $65,000  (not  having  the  statistics  with 
me,  I  shall  be  obliged  to  omit  what  I  designed  at  this 
point)  ;  therefore  said  Cram  came  on  with  men,  horses,  and 
donkeys,  locating  on  my  father's  farm,  now  Dr.  Tyler's  pas- 
ture.    Next  day  after  their  arrival,  I  called  at  the  Bachel- 


49 

ler  House,  to  see  said  gentleman,  and  Mr.  Doty,  his  secretary, 
came  forward  with  a  peculiar  smirk  of  readiness  to  answer 
whatever  I  might  suggest.  Says  I,  "  You  are  not  Mr.  Cram, 
if  I  have  been  rightly  informed."  Doty  :  "  No,  ma'am  ;  but 
anything  you  might  desire  I  am  instructed  to  attend  to." 
"  Very  well,  sir  ;  if  Mr.  Cram  does  not  choose  to  come  for- 
ward, I  shall  only  say  to  you  to  say  to  said  Cram,  I  forbid 
said  Cram,  or  any  of  his  gang,  occupying  my  farm  for  the 
purpose  of  building  a  railroad  bed,  for  which  he  has  en- 
tered into  contract.  My  land  surveyed  has  not  been  legally 
appraised,  therefore  he  must  not  disturb  the  same  till  it  is 
legally  in  railroad  custody."  Doty  :  "  Be  seated,  Mrs.  Hill ; 
I  will  speak  to  Mr.  Cram."  "  Mr.  Cram,  Mrs.  Hill."  "  Mr. 
Cram,  I  had  hoped  to  have  had  my  land  appraised,  &c,  be- 
fore your  coming  ;  as  I  have  not  been  able  to  bring  it  about, 
though  making  strenuous  efforts,  I  shall  have  to  ask  you  to 
locate  your  men  somewhere  else,  the  day  you  intend  to  com- 
mence work  on  my  land."  "  Mrs.  Hill,  I  have  been  thoroughly 
warned  that  I  may  expect  much  trouble  with  you,  your 
brother,  and  one  or  two  others  ;  but  I  can  manage  you,  and  I 
will  give  you  notice  now,  unless  your  crops  are  removed  in 
such  a  length  of  time,  I  will  destroy  your  crops,  regardless  of 
you  entirely."  "  I  regret,  sir,  very  much,  that  you,  seeming 
capable  of  performing  a  $G5,000  job,  should  begin  it  by  vio- 
lating the  statutes,  thus  holding  yourself  amenable  to  the 
law ;  and,  sir,  I  shall  protect  myself  and  rights  at  all  hazard." 
Thus  I  left,  the  railroad  fools  muttering  about  and  with 
glistening  ferocity,  as  if  they  would  tear  me  limb  from  limb. 

I  repeated  to  Alden  Bacheller  the  above.  He  replied  : 
"Mrs.  Hill,  I  will  guarantee  you  shall  have  satisfactory  pay 
for  your  land.  Mr.  Stone  and  I  have  been  talking  it  over, 
and  you  may  rest  assured  it  shall  be  made  right  with  you." 
I  left,  went  to  Mr.  Leach,  and  engaged  him  to  cut  my  grass 
in  both  mcwings  south  of  the  north  railroad  line  staked  off, 
and  he  proceeded  at  once  to  execute  my  wish — the  grass 
was  almost  ruinously  trampled  by  the  hordes  who  went  over 
it  previously.  Mr.  Cram  did  not  press  matters  as  in  his 
haste  he  had  suggested,  said  haste  being  made  by  pread- 
vised  citizens. 
4 


50 

The  path  being  clear  some  days  before,  the  "posse" 
ruthlessly  stripped  me  of  my  best  portion  of  rny  father's  in- 
heritance of  this  world's  estate.  Dailj'  I  passed  among  the 
"gang"  at  work,  gathering  items,  as  fast  as  matured,  for 
the  press.  Header,  the  overseers,  to  a  man,  took  my  part 
(so  far  as  appearances  tell) ;  thusrwhen  McNulety  began  to 
despoil  my  land,  as  directed,  he  also  protected  the  adjoining 
land.  And  never  did  I  receive  kinder  treatment  than  from 
McNulety  and  his  gang,  Cram  and  Doty  leading  off  in  the 
same  way,  Mr.  Cram  saying  repeatedly  at  the  table,  within 
two  weeks  after  the  above,  at  Bacheller's  house  :  "  Mrs. 
Hill,  instead  of  being  a  disturbing  annoyance,  as  he- was  in- 
formed, was  the  most  sensible,  used  discreet  judgment, 
and  made  ready  for  his  work  better  than  any  one  else  on 
the  route.     We  all  like  her  very  much." 

Thus  that  peculiar  snobbery  of  North  Brookfield  was 
throttled. 

Mr.  Cram,  Doty,  overseers  and  I,  are  just  so  yet. 

Erastus  Hill  and  Sherman  built  the  culvert  under  the  filling 
of  sixteen  feet,  said  Hill  telling  his  men  to  draw  off  some  cap 
stone  I  desired  for  my  wall,  where  others  had  been  removed 
to  place  under  grave  stones  and  monuments  from  time  to 
time,  which  he  did.  I  will  here  relate  a  little  incident  to 
keep  up  the  North  Brookfield  styles.  Those  stones  remain- 
ed for  a  year  just  where  they  were  laid,  being  drawn  to  said 
place  on  a  new  style  stone-boat,  with  heavy  yokes  of  cattle. 
Being  in  the  grave  yard,  I  asked  Perry  to  put  the  wall  up 
and  make  an  entrance  somewhere  else  than  said  corner. 
Perry:  "I  want  those  stones  you  have  stolen  and  got  over  in 
your  lot."  "  What  do  you  mean,  sir  ?"  Perry  :  "  Those  stones 
came  off  the  corner,  and  Tucker  says  everybody  knows  it." 
"  And  how  came  they  there  ?  "     Perry  :  "  Why,  you  or  your 

men  have  put  them  there."     "You  most  contemptible , 

one  would  suppose  those  stones  of  tons  weight  were  piled 
there  as  you  would  so  many  snow  balls ;  and,  sir,  I  warn 
you,  from  what  your  wife,  whom  your  freaks  have  located 
in  the  hospital,  till  a  new  doctor  has  been  pieced  in  said 
hospital,  who  has  informed  you  and  the  public  she  cannot 
stay  there,   not  being  crazy,  the  town    aiding  Perry  each 


51 

time,  lias  told  me,  I  warn  you  not  to  remove  any  more  flat, 
thin  stones  from  my  wall  for  walks,  etc.  Said  wife  Las 
repeatedly  told  me  Perry  wishes  you  were  compelled  to 
sell  that  land  '  to  him.'  " 

I  employed  a  man  for  days  removing  some  nice  top  stones 
from  my  half  of  the  wall  taken  and  placed  upon  my  land, 
beyond  the  railroad  line.  And  every  stone  was  eventually 
taken  (stolen),  and  used  about  fillings  in  making  abutments, 
which  will,  ere  long,  be  investigated. 

I  commenced  my  brick  vault  in  the  cemetery  in  June,  1875, 
the  work  not  being  completed  till  fall ;  said  cemented  vault 
being  finished  like  a  room — removing  my  four  lost  boys  from 
a  new  hewn-stone  tomb  built  by  my  late  husband  in  1858, 
at  homestead.  Also  I  placed  the  remains  of  his  former  wife 
in  the  Jonas  Bigelow  tomb,  where  she  was  first  entombed. 
The  two  men  who  had  been  under  my  employ  for  weeks — 
when  they  had  placed  my  predecessors  where  I  directed, 
closing  said  door,  repeated,  "  Susan,  farewell !"  "  Oh,  hold 
me  up  a  minute.  My  God!  if  you  ain't  a  hero,  there  ain't 
one  on  the  globe." 

December  1st  return  from  the  county  commissioners 
with  $40  in  advance  of  the  director's  appraisal ;  no  mention 
made  of  the  bonds  I  had  required,  by  counsel  before  men- 
tioned, sending  letter  at  the  same  time  ;  the  bill  fee  of  the 
commissioners,  $21,  and  costs,  to  be  forwarded  at  once, 
adding  it  would  eventually  be  returned  to  me.  Next  mail  I 
informed  said  counsel  I  could  not  comply  with  his  request. 

As  the  commissioners'  proceedings  were  not  legally  trans- 
acted, therefore  they  must  bide  their  time  (with  some  oth- 
ers), and  collect  said  amount  from  the  town.  December 
28th,  29th,  30th,  I  was  in  attendance  at  the  Massachusetts 
Teachers'  Institute  in  Boston  (of  which  I  have  been  member 
since  1867),  and  there  the  following  legal  illumination  was 
given  me.  (The  railroad  was  going  to  be  dedicated  1st 
January,  1876.) 

"^ou  go  home  and  tell  those  railroad  directors  the  land 
and  the  railroad  upon  the  same  is  your  legal  property,  and 
you  forbid  their  trespassing  upon  the  same  until  they  have 
paid  you,  or  given  suitable   bonds  for   the  same."     I   gave 


52 

said  president  and  directors  the  above  notice  when  bonum 
magnum  NYE  replied,  "We  have  complied  with  all  the  com- 
missioners' requirements  in  full.,  and  shall  do  nothing  more," 
<fec. 

"  Sirs, — I  give  you  till  eleven  o'clock  this  p.  m.  to  comply 
with  my  request  above  mentioned.  Should  you  fail  thus  to 
do,  I  shall  to-morrow  morning  (which  was  railroad  dedication 
day)  take  my  chair  and  seat  myself  upon  my  railroad  track, 
and  should  you  attempt  to  go  over  the  same  with  the  engine, 
said  engine  will  take  me  in  advance."  Alden  Bacheller  and 
others  whispered  with  Nye  and  Bates,  Bates  loudly  asking 
"  How  much  bonds  do  you  want?  "  I  stating  $3,000,  naming 
bondsmen.  Bates :  "Who  told  you  to  ask  that  ?"  "Mrs.  E.  E." 
A  general  smile,  Nye  saying  "We  will  comply."  And  B.  M. 
Nye  and  John  Dewing  came,  bringing  me  the  bonds,  with  one 
signature,  I  had  asked.  I  accepted  readily,  bondsmen  John 
Dewing,  Wm.  Montague,  Alden  Bacheller-,  Dewing  and 
Nye  having  "  invited  me  to  join  in  the  exercises  in  the 
morning."  I  replied,  "I  have  had  a  chiil  from  wind  blowing 
on  me  in  the  cars  coming  home  this  eve,  and  from  my  feel- 
ings now,  the  inevitable  to-morrow  will  find  me  too  lame  for 
public  exhibition."  Readers,  within  forty-eight  hours  I  was 
under  doctor's  care,  and  did  not  go  outdoors  for  more  than  six 
weeks — one  of  my  severe  rheumatic  sicknesses.  During 
said  sickness,  B.  Nye  and  G.  C.  Lincoln  came  to  my  house 
and  tendered  me  the  assessments  of  the  county  commis- 
sioners. They  were  not  accepted.  A  few  more  days  passed, 
when  they  came  again,  having  forgotten  to  tender 
the  interest ;  having  two  or  three  kinds  of  moving 
sticks  around  me,  that  is,  to  aid  in  moving  myself, 
said  gentlemen  thought  they  were  not  nice  enough.  I  replied, 
"  I  have  hinted  divers  ways  since  the  rap  with  the  ball  club 
on  my  head,  the  necessity  of  a  gold-headed  cane  and 
crutch,  and  will  renew  by  asking  you  at  this  time  to  see  that 
I  have  them  forthcoming  through  your  special  instrumen- 
tality," Nye  saying,  "  You  shall  have  them."  But  they 
have  not   arrived  yet. 

That  the  readers  of  this  sketch-book  may  know  how  the 
Tyler  farm  of  200  acres,  more  or  less,  has  been  sold  in  lots 


53 

of  different  measure  :  First,  80  acres,  more  or  less,  to  my 
brother-in-law,  Win.  Stoddard,  containing  heavy  chestnut 
woods  ;  said  Stoddard  having  the  same  for  half  of  its  real 
value.  Father  giving  the  other  part  to  his  eldest  daughter, 
said  Stoddard's  wife.     (1845.) 

The  next  parcel  of  12  acres,  more  or  less,  to  the  inhabit- 
ants of  the  town  of  North  Brookfield,  for  the  sum  of  ($1,800) 
eighteen  hundred  and  some  cents  ;  said  lessees  are  to  build 
the  wall  and  ever  keep  the  same  in  repair  without  expense 
to  father  or  heirs.  This  time  brother  William  died,  22 
years  of  age,  almost  unfitting  father  for  labor. 

The  above  is  "Walnut  Grove  Cemetery  ;  the  last  portion 
being  most  worthless  pasture.  You  will  plainly  see  my  east 
boundary  graveyard  wall  is  56  rods  and  links. 

This  was  sold  after  the  sudden  death  of  brother  Albert 
(drowned),  20  years  of  age,  at  Sturbridge,  Mass.,  where  he 
was  studying  law  with  Esquire  Hyde. 

Esquire  Hyde,  Dr.  of  the  said  town,  and  five  others  were 
in  the  pond  bathing  with  Albert,  when  he  went  down  not  to 
rise  without  aid  !  !  !     (1S54.) 

The  next  j)arcel  sold  to  Amos  Dean  (now  owned  by 
Walter  Howe),  containing  3  acres,  more  or  less,  for  ($900) 
nine  hundred  dollars  ;  said  Dean  to  build  the  wall  and  keep 
in  repair  this  3  acre  lot,  is  west  end  of  the  Tyler  farm  north 
of  the  main  road,  North  Brookfield  to  East  Brookfield  ;  said 
lot  having  about  12  rods  front.  And  a  neck  land  back  of 
said  3  acres,  father  sold  to  Lewis  Whiting,  which  the  rail- 
road had  in  its  bed.     (1856.) 

Upon  south  side  of  said  road,  father  sold  to  J.  F.  Hebard, 
a  chestnut  wood  lot,  some  20  rods  to  40  rods  front,  for 
$1,000,  and  mowing  land  back  of  said  chestnut  woods,  for 
$100  per  acre. 

There  were  six  building  lots  sold  off  from  the  Chestnut 
running  back  10  rods,  containing  about  one-half  acre  each, 
for  nearly  $300  each  ;  each  lot  being  in  cut  of  wood  condi- 
tion. Land  above  described  not  to  be  compared  with  mine 
(7\  acres)  for  locality  and  products.     (1857.) 

Dr.  Tyler  was  at  this  time  in  Medical  College,  Philadel- 
phia.    1  have  the  exact  figures  of  the  above  at  my  home  in 


54 

North  Brookfield,  Mass.,  and  by  memory,  which  I  have 
down. 

In  Jnly,  1875,  I  was  applied  to  from  a  parent  to  instruct 
Willie  that  he  might  be  able  to  enter  the  High  School.  His 
examination  papers  (after  the  close  of  Grammar  Schoolj,  for 
admission  to  the  above  school,  were  an  entire  failure.  I 
was  surprised,  as  he  had  been  my  scholar,  both  public  and 
private,  with  James  De  Bevoise,  some  time  before. 

Thus,  having  a  two-fold  interest,  I  said  if  the  schools  in 
which  he  had  been  had  not  "  muddled  him,"  I  had  no 
doubt  that  I  could  instruct  him,  making  him  eligible  for 
above  school.  Willie  Bacheller  commenced  recitation  July 
15th,  and  on  the  16th,  after  recitation,  my  valuable  gold 
watch  (I  paid  $68  in  1866,)  was  stolen  from  my  recitation 
table  by  John  McCarty,  9  years  old,  who  had,  during  recita- 
tion, come  to  my  door  and  asked  to  pick  some  cherries  (it 
was  granted).  I  passed  out  after  recitation  with  Willie, 
stopping  under  the  cherry  tree  ;  Willie  fixing  the  ladder  that 
the  boy  might  pick  me  some  too  (he  appeared  a  pretty 
boy) ;  I  passing  about  ten  rods  east  of  said  boy  to  Mr. 
Sampson's  shop  window  to  borrow  some  implement  for 
the  hired  man,  &c. 

Mr.  Sampson  avers  "I  did  not  stop  five  minutes," — re- 
turning into  my  own  yard,  said  boy  came  off  the  tree,  was 
under  the  hedge  some  two  rods  from  the  tree.  Mrs.  Haston's 
neighbor,  in  coming  to  my  house,  halted  at  said  boy  to  see 
what  mischief  he  was  at.  I  said, "  Mrs.  Haston,  please  come 
right  along  and  be  seated,  while  I  carry  this  so  and  so"; — (fif- 
teen minutes  had  not  gone  since  Willie  and  I  left  the  recita- 
tion room,  the  watch  between  the  vases  of  flowers,  its  invari- 
able place  during  recitations).  I  was  just  going  to  lock  this 
door  and  go  to  my  parlor  when  said  boy  came  with  cher- 
ries— he  could  not  stop  longer — having  perhaps  a  pint.  I 
took  a  handful,  regretting  he  could  not  stop  as  I  wished 
some  cherries  picked  to  can,  thus  engaging  the  boy  to  come 
next  day  and  pick,  telling  him  he  should  have  half,  &c. ;  he 
agreed  to  come,  'cause  mother  wanted  cherries.  After  Mrs. 
Haston  Avent  away — reading,  &c,  till  dark — later,  quite  dark, 
thinking  to  retire  without   light,  as  had  been  my  common 


55 


practice  since  my  "rap"  —  went  down  to  get  my  watch 
and  purse.  My  watch  was  not  there,  I  said  in  beating 
baste,  "I  have  not  carried  the  watch  up  stairs."  All  search 
was  vain.  I  stepped  across  the  road  to  W.  Howe,  asked 
him  to  go  to  L.  P.  De  Land,  Deputy  Sheriff,  and  have  him 
go  for  the  boy,  as  he  alone  had  stolen  my  watch,  &c.  De 
Land  replied,  if  the  boy  had  it  he  would  have  it  in  the 
morning.     He  would  see  me  and  the  boy  in  the  morning. 

The  morning  was  nearing  noon.  De  Land  did  not  come ; 
I  started  for  him.  On  reaching  his  house,  Squire  Barnes 
was  up  in  the  cherry  tree  ;  De  Land  is  from  home ;  Barnes 
saying  to  me  he  was  sorry  for  my  loss,  and  he  thought  my 
labor  on  the  Bacheller  boy  would  not  amount  to  anything.  It 
would  not  be  possible  to  get  him  into  the  high  school;  I  re- 
plied he  will  get  in  if  we  live,  &o.  Mr.  De  Land  at  this 
time  appears  and  we  go  to  McCarty  ;  no  one  in  the  house  ; 
he  mates  search  in  vain.  De  Land  takes  me  home.  Mrs. 
McCarty.  whom  I  knew  not,  was  there  intoxicated  for 
cherries.  I  asked  why  her  boy  did  not  come.  "  Oh  he  was 
sick  unto  death  from  eating  my  cherries,  and  he  was  in  bed 
now."  Much  to  the  amusement  of  De  Land  and  to  my  hor- 
or,  for  my  watch  was  stolen.  De  Land  takes  me  one  side 
and  says,  "Get  her  into  the  house,  it  being  about  6  p.m., 
and  I  will  see  him  at  home,  as  the  father  will  bo  there."  I  did 
as  the  sheriff  said;  said  sheriff  found  the  father  and  son.  He 
presented  the  question  to  the  boy  pleasantly,  the  boy  pleas- 
antly answering  all  questions,  also  saying  there  were  four  or 
five  other  boys  on  the  tree  and  arouDd  it.  He  bad  not  taken 
the  watch,  his  father  crying  (said  man  is  always  on  the 
grin),  saying  he  told  his  wife  if  she  sent  him  to  Mrs.  Hill's 
for  cherries  she'd  get  him  into  a  fuss  and  told  her  not  to 
send  him  at  all.  De  Land  soon  returned,  telling  me  "I  had 
got  to  fix  on  some  other  boy,  Johnny  saying  there  were  four 
or  five  about." 

I  replied,  "  John  McCarty  has  stolen  that  watch  and  no 
other  boy  !"  "  Well,  I  guess  you  are  mistaken,  I  did  my  best 
to  find  him  guilty,  and  I  could  not  find  the  first  look  of  guilt." 
"  That  boy  has  stole  and  outwitted  you."  Well,  my  advice  to 
you  is,  if  you  ever  have  another  not  to  go  off  and  leave  it  on 


56 

the  table;  you  admit  you  were  careless."  "No,  sir,  it  lias 
thus  been  left  hundreds  of  times."  "  The  last,  once  too 
many."  "  I  will  see  what  I  can  do."  After  a  sleepless  night 
(making  two  of  them),  I  rose  early,  not  too  early,  for  Mrs. 
McCarty  was  at  my  door  waiting,  saying  "  she  fult  so  bad 
to  think  I  should  send  De  Land  to  her  house,  and  accuse 
her  boy  of  stealing  my  watch."  "Mrs.  McCarty,  your  boy 
has  my  watch,  and  you  know  it ;  I  have  risen  thus  early  to 
go  to  Worcester  to  see  Judge  Williams,  etc.  You  will  be 
held  with  your  son  for  my  watch,  etc.  Your  boy  is  young, 
and  perhaps  did  not  realize  what  a  theft  he  was  perpetrat- 
ing." "  He  would  not  steal  your  watch,  he  loves  you  so," 
and  she  laid  the  kisses  thick  and  fast  on  my  hands.  "Mrs. 
McCarty,  I  respect  Father  Cronin  very  highly,  and  I  will 
let  him  deal  with  your  boy,  and  nobody  else,  if  you  will 
go  and  carry  that  watch  to  him  and  tell  him  you  are  most 
crazed  to  think  Johnny  should  take  it.  You  hear  what  I 
say ;  carry  the  watch  to  Father  Cronin  before  ten  o'clock — 
it  shall  be  hushed  up,"  etc.  "  Why,  I  look  so  to  go  to  the 
priest ;  I  could  not  get  round  at  that  time."  "  Oh,  yes,  go 
right  along."  (I  think  the  watch  was  in  her  bosom  then.) 
"  Mr.  Cronin  will  do  just  the  right  thing  about  it.  There  is 
not  a  man  in  North  Brookfield  worthier  of  respect  and 
esteem  than  Rev.  Mr.  Cronin,  School  Committee,"  etc.  "  I 
know  you  mean  what  you  say,  and  I  will  go  and  carry  it  to 
him  right  off."  Filling  her  hands  with  goodies  she  started 
blessing  me  fully  equal  to  an  "  evangelist." 

Morning  duties  through,  my  joy  made  time  fly,  and   ere  I 
was  aware  it  was  ten.     Now  for  my  mail,  and  a  call  on 

Deputy  D ,  and  find  his  opinions,  and  what  is  best  to  do, 

etc.  You  see  I  was  just  teeming  with  joy.  I  must  play  the 
theatre.  I  will  dress  my  feet  in  new  gaiters,  which  will  colic 
my  bunions,  and  there'll  be  agony  unfeigned  in  my  face. 
Off  I  started.  Deputy  D.  was  athis  office,  and  33.  F.  De  Land 
and  Henry  De  Land,  all  three  in  audience.  "I  came  in, 
Sheriff,  to  see  what  was  best  to  do  about  Johnny."  "  I  shall 
not  do  anything  about  him,  he  has  not  stolen  that  wratch  no 
more  than  I  have."  "  And,  sir,  I  am  just  as  positive  he  has." 
The  brothers  rather  arguing  on   my  side,  etc.,  thus  causing 


57 

the  Sheriff  to  advise  me  "  to  go  to  Jenks,  and  if  he  would 
make  out  a  warrant,  I'll  go  for  him."  "You  have  seen 
Jenks?"  "Yes."  "  Oh,  I  am  in  such  agony,  I  just  want  to 
screech."  "  Keep  cool,  keep  cool."  "  I  cannot,  I  am  in  per- 
fect misery;  and  I  am  going  up  to  see  Father  Cronin  and  get 
his  advice."  "  I  should  advise  you  not  to  go  near  him,  of 
course  you  will  do  as  you  please."  "Yes,  I  shall  compass 
heaven  and  earth  if  that  watch  is  not  forthcoming.  Good 
morning." 

At  the  priest's,  Father  Cronin,  seeing  me  coming,  meets 
me  at  the  front  door-step,  with  coat  in  hand,  saying,  "I  was 
just  going  to  come  down  and  see  you,  and  bring  what  there 
is  left  of  your  watch."  Seating  me  in  their  parlor,  he  re- 
turned, bringing  my  once  watch,  all  torn  to  pieces.  My 
agony  was  then  something  beside  my  feet.  He  says  :  "  It  shall 
be  replaced  in  value  equal  to  your  loss,"  &c.  "  Oh,  Father 
Cronin,  why  is  it  everything  connected  with  me  is  tortured — 
thus  torturing  me  in  every  devisable  manner."  "  '  Those  the 
Lord  loveth  He  chasteneth."  "  I  want  longer  breves  between 
"  chastenings.'  "  Turning  round,  he  soon  appears  :  "  I  will 
see  the  boy  ;  his  mother  will  send  him  to  me  this  p.  M.  *  * 
I  will  take  the  watch  and  show  it,  and  then  you  will  take  it 

and  see  if  it  can  be  fixed."  "  Yes."  I  called  on  Sheriff  D 

and  showed  what  was  left  of  the  watch,  both  brothers  being 
present.  Mrs.  McCarty  came  to  my  house  in  the  afternoon, 
when  we  effected  a  settlement.  Mrs.  McCarty  paying  $40, 
giving  her  note  for  $18,  payable  on  or  before  the  1st  of  Sep- 
tember, 1875,  and  what  remains  of  the  watch  is  now  to  be 
kept  with  dead  baby's  clothes. 

Next  day  after  settlement  she  came,  saying  "W.  H.,"  &c, 
"has  told  her  to  go  and  get  that  watch  ;  she  will  be  arrest- 
ing }Tour  boy  anytime  she  can  show  that  torn  uy  watch,  and 

if  you  had  not  been   a  d n  fool  she  never  would  have 

found  it,  and  the  whole  town  was  glad  she  had  lost  it.  Go, 
get  that  watch  from  the  mean  thing."  Thus  she  became 
furious  as  a  madman,  set  on  solely  by  drunken,  low  Yankees. 
Thus  she  raved  for  a  time.  A  few  Sabbaths  after  I  was 
in  the  graveyard,  and  Foster  and  Jenks  met  me,  both 
'ving  a    leering   look  at   my   chaiu,   as  if    saying,    "She 


58 

has  the  watch  on."  I  had  my  locket  on.  Report  had  it 
that  Foster,  constable,  had  stated  he  would  rather  give  $100 
than  have  me  find  it,  and  Con.  Bliss  said  I  had  not  lost  my 
watch.     Bothwell  joined  the  young  insurrection  against  me. 

In  due  time  I,  with  Con.  Hunter,  called  at  Mrs.  McCarty's, 
the  little  girl  admitting  us  in  an  entry  very  small.  Mrs.  Mc- 
Carty,  with  bread  knife  in  hand,  flourishing  it,  locked  the 
door,  scaring  Hunter  as  pale  as  death.  I  said,  "  Timmy, 
take  that  knife  from  your  mother  or  I  shall."  He  did 
so.  I  told  her  what  I  came  for.  "  She  never  would  pay  me 
a  cent ;  it  was  a  lie  I  had  told,  saying  her  boy  had  stolen 
my  watch ;  every  body  knows  you  are  a  liar,  and  mean." 
Timmy  let  us  out,  getting  the  key  away  from  his  frenzied 
mother  by  a  ruse.  The  constable  saw  me  home,  and  said  he 
never  was  so  frightened  in  his  life.  I  was  in  fear,  but  kept 
my  presence  of  mind  until  I  was  out.  I  was  so  weak  I  could 
hardly  stand.  That  drunken  woman  went  calling  same  even- 
ing for  Foster  to  arrest  me  for  disturbing  the  peace,  and  re- 
port had  it  I  was  arrested  by  said  Foster;,  who  was  in  glee  over 
her,  charging  her  nevt  r  to  pay  another  cent  on  the  watch, 
and  the  $-10  is  all  I  have  received  from  her,  and  not  a  word 
from  Hunter  or  myself  to  cause  the  above  report.  I  have  ap- 
plied to  Deacon  Montague  of  the  "  big  shop  "  firm  to  try  and 
make  said  parties  pay  the  remainder.  Montague  :  "I  think 
you  and  I  had  better  let  the  law  have  its  course."  C.  E.  Jenks 
is  going  to  have  me  taken  for  compounding  a  felony.  Header, 
I  do  not  propose  to  apply  to  the  law  for  justice,  and  expect 
to  get  any  through  such  agents.  Neither  shall  I  let  them  or 
any  one  be  getting  from  me  (after  losing  my  watch)  what- 
ever they  desire  to  strip  me  of,  because  I  spot  the  sinner. 

"  Charles  Duncan  had  a  clerk  who  abstracted  $1,200  from 
his  store  drawer,  and  he  had  it  refunded  with  interest.  Said 
money  had  been  banked  as  fast  as  drawn,"  &c. 

No  compounding  felony  in  that  case.  That  "  compound" 
belongs  to  Mrs.  Hill  in  getting  the  ruined  watch,  if  she  can. 

Three  days  gone.  Willie  B.  is  in  recitation,  and  we  know 
when  the  hour  is  gone  by  the  town  clock  striking. 

I  gave  him  twenty-eight  lessons.  He  entered  the  high- 
school  ;  Mr.  Clay,  teacher,  saying,  "  among  the  first  examin- 


59 

ations  he  was  the  poorest  of  any  scholar  examined  in  the 
school,  and  now  he  enters  bearing  the  best  examination  of 
any  scholar." 

Two  young  misses  entered  through  my  instruction  not- 
withstanding the  mob's  efforts  to  keep  some  vile  contumely 
of  their  own  inheritance  going  round. 

"  The  more  eminently  virtue  shines,  the  more  it  is  exposed 
to  persecution." 

North  Beookfield  Town  Meeting,  March  1st,  1876. 

T.  C.  Bates  now  cautions  his  "  dupes  "  as  follows  :  "  The 
great  question  to-day  with  the  voters  and  tax-payers  is,  with 
how  small  an  amount  of  money  can  the  town  meet  its  obliga- 
tions the  coming  year?"  Our  rate  of  taxation  for  1875  was 
$19.25  on  $1,000,  and  the  money  raised  by  the  town  was  as 
follows  : 

Schools $7,000 

Support  of  poor 1,500 

Highways,  bridges  and  sidewalks 4,000 

Interest  on  town  debt 1,000 

Contingent  expenses , 3,000 

New  hearse 1,000 

Memorial  day 100 

Railroad 9,000 

Interest  on  railroad  debt 2,500 

$33,100 

Amount  of  State  tax 2,820 

Amount  of  County  tax 2,317 

Overlayings   840 

$38,077 
Total  valuation  of  town,  $1,845,675. 
Rate  of  tax  on  $1,000,  $19.25. 

"Now,  the  question  is,  how  much  of  this  amount  can  we 
do  without  in  1876  ?  Can  our  schools  be  maintained  with 
any  less  sum  ?  It  is  thought  $500  may  be  deducted  from  the 
appropriation  of  last  year,  and  our  schools  fully  kept  up  to 
their  present  high  degree  of  excellence.     And  there  should 


60 

be  $1,500  less  on  the  highways  and  sidewalks.  The  payment 
of  $9,U00  of  the  railroad  debt  must  be  provided  for,  and 
about  $5,000  interest  on  the  balance,  making  $14,000  to  ap- 
propriate for  maturing  railroad  obligations. 

Now,  if  our  town  officers  will  give  their  services  for  a  few 
years,  or  for  one  year,  that  would  help  us  out  very  much  ; 
but  if  they  cannot,  or  rather  will  not,  they  really  should  be 
willing  to  work  as  cheap  as  some  officers  in  neighboring 
towns.  But  they  can  all  afford  to  donate  their  service  for 
one  year,  at  least,  especially  if  the  present  officers  are  re- 
elected to-day,  and  every  advocate  or  friend  of  the  railroad 
enterprise  should  work  earnestly  to  reduce  all  expenses  in 
our  town  affairs.  A  very  few  of  our  citizens,  and  the  most 
conspicuous  of  the  few  advocates  (and  having  no  family  to 
receive  the  benefits  of  more  school  room)  are  very  desirous 
of  adding  another  burden  of  four  or  five  thousand  for  another 
school  house  in  the  center.  Now,  we  can  make  our  present 
accommodations  suffice  for  a  few  years  more,  and  this  can 
be  easily  done  if  parents  will  not  be  so  anxious  to  get  their 
children  out  of  their  way  and  under  the  teacher's  care  as 
soon  as  they  can  walk  alone  and  find  the  school-house. 

Sketch  or  two  of  Town  Investigations  at  this  March 

Meeting  day,  1876. 

Bates  comes  forth  a  saviour  for  the  interest  of  the 
town.  Therefore  a  general  look  over  the  town  proceed- 
ings of  many  years  of  G.  C.  Lincoln,  merchant,  treasury- 
ship.  His  bonds  have  never  been  legally  sworn,  <fec,  some 
bondsmen  not  knowing  they  were  held  as  bondsmen,  show- 
ing up  the  town  had  never  received,  according  to  reports, 
any  interest  on  money  during  the  eight  years,  more  or  less, 
of  said  Lincoln's  service,  etc.,  as  town  treasurer.  G.  (3.  L. 
said  there  had  never  been  any  to  put  at  interest.  True, 
of  course.  And  thus  bringing  about  Bates'  prearranged 
plan.  That  as  fast  as  money  of  such  an  amouut  should 
be  in  hand,  it  be  deposited  in  some  bank,  that  interest 
should  be  accruing  for  the  benefit  of  the  town  (instead  of 
treasurer).  Therefore,  a  new  town  treasurer  was  elected  to 
office,  bondsmen  all  sworn  publicly,  and  that  car  just  started 
for  the  first  time  right.     Next — 


61 

S.  Bothwell,  Collector  and  Treasurer  of  Taxes,  North  B. 

His  bondsmen,  too,  had  never  been  legally  sworn,  &c. 

More  than  all  that,  Bothwell  had  been  collecting  interest 
from  the  poor  "  clod-hoppers  "  on  their  great  sacrifice  tax 
for  four  years,  more  or  less,  amounting  to,  it  must  be,  hun-r 
dreds  cf  dollars,  and  not  one  cent  ever  went  into  the  treasury. 
S.  Bothwell  rose  looking  lanker  than  you  could  imagino  any 
one,  except  Uriah  Heep,  and  said  "  he  was  going  to  pay  it, 
and  had  always  intended  to,  every  cent."  Of  course  that 
was  all  right.  Header,  he  had  had  beside  $300  or  $350  per 
year  for  collecting  said  taxes.  These  being  the  two  worst 
leaks  in  the  town  purse,  the  rest  will  not  be  mentioned. 

April  10th,  1876.— The  directors  of  the  North  Brookfield 
Railroad  Company  reported.  The  present  board  of  directors 
was  chosen  at  a  meeting  July  3d,  1875,  in  selectmen's  room, 
and  there  have  been  stockholders'  meetings  twice  since, 
convened  by  request  of  the  directors,  November  11th,  1875, 
to  authorize  the  directors  to  lease  our  railroad  when  done  to 
the  B.  &  A.  R.  B.  Co. ;  and  on  February  7th,  1876,  to  ratify 
and  adopt  a  code  of  by-laws  for  the  company  directors — 
Bonum  Nye,  Freeman  Walker,  Alden  Bacheller,  Liberty 
Stone,  John  B.  Dewing,  Warren  Tyler,  W.H.  Montague,  Geo. 
C.  Lincoln,  Theodore  C.  Bates. 

I  will  give  costs  of  building  N.  B.  R.  R.  You  will  re- 
member it  was  to  be  built,  fully  equipped  with  rolling  stock 
for  $100,000. 

By  amount  paid  on  construction  account $78,171  22 

"         "              "       engineering 3,485  44 

"               "       incidentals   816  02 

"         "               "       land  damage  account 15,390  47 

$97,863  15 

North  Brookfield,  Mass.,  1875.— Total  valuation,  $1,845,- 
675.00. 

Total  number  of  inhabitants  as  returned  by  State  enume- 
rator, 3,748. 


62 

Town  pays  Boston  &  Albany  Railroad,  $2,000  per  year  for 
lease  of  rolling-stock,  which  is  the  simple  interest  of  $33,- 
333£  ;  said  sum  added  to  $90,000  amounts  to  $123,333.33^. 
$123,333.33^  divided  by  $1,845,675.00  =  quotient,  .0G§  cents. 
Therefore  the  town  is  actually  taxed  .06|  per  cent  on  a  dol- 
lar to  make  a  dozen  men  wealthy. 

When  the  town  voted  to  raise  5  per  cent,  of  her  valuation, 
there  were  but  forty-eight  hours  more,  when  the  die  would 
be  cast,  and  then  3  per  cent,  of  her  valuation  alone  could  be 
raised.  A  wayfaring  man,  though  a  fool,  can  see  from  the 
above  that  we  are  taxed  6|  per  cent.  The  town  subscribed 
to  become  an  associate  before  the  said  law  was  made  statute. 
If  I  remember  right  it  became  statute  the  May  following, 
January  29th,  1875.  The  defect  in  the  above  proceedings, 
if  allowed  to  stand  without  investigation  and  prohibition,  is 
demoralizing  to  the  nation. 

Should  a  suit  in  equity  be  brought  to  recover  taxes  thus 
illegally  paid,  the  result  will  affect  the  destinies  of  unborn 
numbers  for  weal  or  woe. 

Again,  if  courts  will  sustain  towns  in  borrowing  money 
without  limitation  and  distinction,  in  direct  violation  of  the 
statutes,  what  is  to  prevent  every  town  in  the  government 
from  becoming  bankrupt  ?  Thus  I  argued,  and  could  I  be- 
lieve those  railroad  men  enacted  what  is  their  mind,  I  should 
have  been  "  squelched  "  from  mortal  view.  After  the  town 
meeting  I  went  into  Bates'  path. 

What  meaneth  it,  $98,000  swallowed  up  and  no  rolling- 
stock  ?  Bates  :  "  I  have  heard  enough  of  your  blab  sticking 
round  here  ;  you  would  be  glad  to  have  folks  think  you 
literary,  your  inch  long  pieces  in  the  paper.  There  ain't  a 
person  in  town  but  what  hates  the  sight  of  you  ! "  "  They 
don't  hate  the  sight  of  my  income  and  land  that  is  taken 
and  made  a  sinking  fund  to  benefit  the  'big  shop 'and  stores. 
Every  time  you  or  any  one  else  rides  in  those  cars  over  my 
land,  I  am  contributing  largely  for  their  every  ride,"  &c. 
"You  a  sinking  fund?  As  though  you  had  money  !  The 
town  has  offered  you  ten  times  the  worth  of  your  land,  but 
you  will  fight,  and  I  will  tell  you  now,  when  you  get  through 
your  suit  for  damages,  you  won't  have  money  enough  left  to 
buy  the  grub  for  your  next  meal." 


63 

April  28th,  187G. 

The  County  Commissioners,  in  session  at  North  Brook- 
field,  I  suppose  them  to  say  to  railroad  directors :  we  could 
not  have  advised  you  better  iu  the  crossings  of  these  roads 
than  you  have  done,  and  we  are  highly  pleased  with  the  cross- 
ings thereof,  &c.  But  their  ardor  was  cooled  when  I  ap- 
peared, presenting  a  letter  to  Commissioner  Brown,  saying, 
"You  will  please  to  attend  this  day  to  the  complaint  within" 
(I  have  not  the  copy, it  is  in  North  Brookfield).  Mr.  Brown: 
"We  may  not  have  time."  "  I  wish  you  to  comply  this  day 
with  my  request,"  &c.  I  then  passed  on  my  way.  Report 
has  it  Brown  opened  the  letter,  smilingly,  passed  it  to  F. 
Walker:  "I  can't  read  that."  '  He  took  said  letter,  looked  it 
over,  passing  it  to  Bates :  "  If  you  can  read  bad  spelling  and 
writing,  try  that  letter — ha!  ha!"  Bates  read  aloud  said 
letter  without  hesitation,  to  the  great  edification  and  joy  of 
the  bystanders,  who  said,  "Mrs.  Hill  had  him !" 

In  said  letter  wTas  a  complaint  of  the  road,  in  which  the 
railroad  had  made  a  rise  of  seven  feet — the  north  descent 
being  fifty  feet,  the  south  eighty  feet.  Said  commissioners 
on  the  2d  of  December,  1875,  notified  the  town  to  grade 
said  filling  100  feet  north  and  150  south.  Said  commission- 
ers proceeded  to  view  the  same.  I  was  there.  The  com- 
missioners asked  if  any  one  could  tell  them  the  grade  ordered 
by  them?  December.  Dumb  silence.  Nye,  Walker,  Bates, 
&c.  I  have  seen  intended  ignorance  before.  But  I  will  in- 
form you.  Some  of  the  selectmen  and  railroad  directors 
have  told  me  the  road  was  complete,  and  nothing  more  to 
be  done,  &c.  And  your  orders  are  upon  the  court  records 
100  feet  north  and  150  south.  Mr.  Bigelow  says  to  the 
directors,  "you  make  that  grade  at  once."  Oh,  those  coun- 
tenances!    I  see  them  now  as  then. 

Within  a  month  the  Boston  &  Albany  Railway  were 
dumping  sand  upon  said  filling,  leaving  it  again  80  and  120 
feet.  I  dispatched  another  letter  to  said  directors,  de- 
manding completion,  as  legally  ordered. 

McKay  contracted  and  finished  out  said  work.  In  doing 
the  same  they  stole  all  the  stones  that  lay  in  heaps  upon  my 
own  land,  placed  there  by  my  hired  men  when  the  railroad 


64 

was  building;  Nye  telling  said  men  to  pile  some  upon  the 
"wall.     Readers,  please  notice  the  trespass  and  stealing. 

The  trespass  of  rocks  being  placed  upon  my  mowing  by 
Carter,  who  made  the  first  grade ;  said  overseer  being  the 
only  one  that  was  a  complete  tool  for  the  directors — McKay 
bringing  up  the  rear.  Said  Carter,  men  and  horses,  were 
kept  by  Mr.  Tyler  a  length  of  time ;  said  Tyler  losing  $'260 
by  them. 

The  commissioners  compelled  the  directors  to  make  my 
lower  crossing  as  petitioned,  but  in  the  first  mowing,  it  is  not 
granted. 

April  1st,  1876. — Bates  has  in  the  North  Brookfield  Journal, 
viz.,  "The  railroad  company  is  virtually  the  towu.  It  is  a 
question  in  which  all  our  people  take  a  deep  interest,  and 
are  firmly  united  in  the  sentiment  that  the  awards  are  all 
sufficient,  and  every  effort  to  make  the  compensation  larger 
should  be  contested  to  the  last  degree.  But  it  is  hoped 
these  dissatisfied  claimants  do  not  want  a  legal  contest  for 
the  benefit  of  lawyers  and  the  disadvantage  of  their  own 
neighbor  friends.  But  if  it  must  come,  the  almost  unani- 
mous feeling  of  our  citizens  is,  that  it  must  be  opposed  to 
the  furthest  extent." 

April  28th,  1876. 
I  wrote  to  the  directors  to  grant  me  a  hearing  before  three 
of  their  body,  specifying  them  to  see  if  there  could  be 
brought  about  a  railroad  settlement.  Their  reply  to  me 
was  :  "  When  the  other  four  are  settled,  then  we  will  try 
you." — Selah. 

May  1st,  1876. 

To  our  patriotic,  public  spirited  citizen,  Charles  Kittridge, 
belongs  the  honor  of  having  first  brought  his  unsettled  claim 
for  land  damages,  before  the  courts.  Since  the  last  issue  of 
the  Journal,  the  officers  of  the  Railroad  Company  have 
been  summoned  to  appear  at  Fitchburg,  at  the  June  Term 
of  court. 

Mr.  Kittridge's  case  against  the  N.  B.  R.  R.  Co.  is  No. 
1052  on  the  docket,  and,  of  this  number,  over  850  have 


05 

t 

not  got  even  called,  and  the  best  authority  obtainable  says 
it  cannot  bo  reached  in  much  less  than  two  years,  and  then 
it  may  take  two  years  more  to  decide  whether  Mr.  Kitt- 
ridge's  wood  lot  is  worth  $150  per  acre,  as  we  have  offered 
him,  or  only  about  $40,  as  good  judges  of  honest  men  have 
appraised  it.  We  are  sorry  Mr.  .K.  is  so  determined  to 
throw  his  money  into  the  basket  he  has  selected,  and  cause 
the  railroad  officers  so  much  trouble  and  annoyance,  though 
the  company  may  not  have  to  pay  him  so  much  by  a  hun- 
dred dollars,  yet  the  court  expenses  will  consume  it,  and 
that  was  their  opinion  when  the  liberal  offer  of  $150  was 
made  him.  If  this  money  at  interest  will  not  amount  to  more 
by  the  time  this  case  is  settled  than  he  will  get  after  paying 
his  lawyer's  fees,  costs,  and  all  other  expenses  attending  the 
controversy,  we  are  very  much  mistaken,  and  our  citizens 
generally  will  feel  as  though  our  respected  public  benefactor 
should  have  some  slight  token  of  thei*  appreciation  and  re- 
spect for  his  noble  generosity,  and  probably  the  hat  will  be 
passed  around  to  get  the  money  to  pay  his  bills  after  he  has 
been  beaten  in  the  courts.  At  any  rate,  the  respect  they 
will  always  have  for  him  will  be  of  great  value  to  such  sen- 
sitive, appreciative  persons  as  both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  K.  have 
shown  themselves  to  be.  Have  we  any  more  such  people  in 
our  town  ?     Time  will  tell. 

May  27th,  1876. 

Burglars  are  still  on  the  scout  in  North  Brookfield.  They 
have  made  several  attempts  to  enter  residences  within  the 
past  few  weeks.  They  tried  again,  about  one  o'clock,  at 
Mrs.  E.  R.  Hill's  residence.  Their  noise  awoke  her,  and  her 
alarm  given  to  the  neighbors  drove  them  away.  Liberty 
Stone  had  evidence  of  their  trail  upon  his  premises  the 
same  night.  D.  Whiting,  A.  Bacheller,  Blood,  and  DeLand 
went  to  Mrs.  Hill's  aid. 

Before  forty-eight  hours  were  gone  a  vile  report  was 
heralded  to  me,  as  my  sayings  in  my  fright.  Where  did 
you  hear  the  loathsome,  obscene  —oh,  horror  !  oh,  my  God, 
wh}T  dost  thou  not  cause  their  tongues  to  cleave  to  the  roof 
of  their  vile  mouths  ?    "  They  said  you  was  as  crazy  as  a 


GG 

bed  bug."  "Toll  me  at  once,  who  is  bearing  that  vile- 
ness  to  be  bandied  through  that  'big  shop'?"  "Wilder 
Dean,  Eddie  Bacheller,  both  were  telling  of  it."  My  hat  was 
on  in}-  head,  quickly.  "  Keep  cool,  aud  give  them  what  will 
live  and  be  to  their  benefit."  I  was  soon  in  said  market, 
saying,  "Bacheller,  a  vile  slang  is  being  reported,  and  you 
with  Mr.  Dean  are  said  to  be  reporters;   did  you  coin  what 

you  told  in  presence  of  Mr. ?"  "  No,  I  didn't ;  I  have 

heardmore  than  forty  tell  of  it."  "  Please  name  one."  ."  I  can't; 
there  was  more  than  twenty  last  evening  ;  I  did  not  notice — 
it  was.  the  general  laugh."  "  Will  you  please  tell  me  one  in  this 
market  last  everiing  that  did  not  join  the  rabble."  "I  shall 
not  say  :i lathing  more."  W.  Dean's  answer  same.  "  You  both 
are  legally  held  as  coiners  of  this  vile  report,  verifying  the 
adage,  '  out  of  the  abundance  of  the  heart  the  mouth 
speaketh  ;'  I  have  found  who  the  author  of  this  vile  talk  is, 
and  I  leave  you  with  disgust  and  contempt." 

Reader,  that  is  a  perfect  representation  of  the  style  of 
eight-tenths  of  the  citizens  of  North  Brookfield,  Massa- 
chusetts, the  modern  population. 

Patrick  Kellogg's  residence  had  the  same  kind  of  a  call  at 
the  bed-room  window,  both  husband  and  wife  seeing  and 
recognizing  the  man;  as  report  has  it,  Bothwell,  and  select- 
man, and  the  family  think  it  best  to  hush  it  up.  So  much 
for  statutes  and  officers,  to  mete  out  justice  to  ivliomsoever 
they  iv ill. 

As  I  was  returning  home  I  thought  it  best  to  tell  Mr.  A. 
Bacheller  what  came  from  said  market,  and  the  authors,  when 
weeping,  Bates  tunes  up,  as  he  comes  into  the  store,  "  Miss 
Hill,  you  got  ready  to  take  the  commissioner's  award."  This 
is  your  time  to  taunt  also.  I  left  the  store  without  purchase. 
I  will  here  state  I  have  twice  written  A.  H.  Bacheller  &  Co., 
of  the  "  big  shop,"  offering  to  sell  him  all  the  land  cut  off 
below  the  north  side  of  the  railroad,  giving  them  the  com- 
missioner's award,  &c.  Not  one  word  ;  so  much  for  that, 
and  my  effort  in  the  same  way  to  other  interested  parties 
has  received  the  same  attention.  The  award  rendered  is  a 
song  composed  with  the  injury  and  income  the  railroad  has 
taken  for  their  special  benefit. 


67 

My  land  has  been  set  on  fire  four  times  by  the  engine, 
burning  once  all  over  north  of  railroad  bed.  Three  times  I 
was  notified,  and  with  help  extinguished  it. 

I  was  told  by  the  engineer  before  the  railroad  was  com- 
plete, after  the  first  burning  (I  was  at  Worcester  at  this 
time  of  the  fire),  "  it  would  bo  impossible  to  have  a  building 
upon  my  two  acre  lot,  owing  to  the  great  power  required  to 
come  up  and  around  the  curve."  My  loss  is  great.  My 
cherished  plans  are  clashed  to  the  ground.  My  best  part  of 
my  livelihood  taken  for  a  sinking  fund  for  "  big  shop,"  a  few 
stores,  and,  as  report  has  it,  free-ride  passengers. 

I  have  repeatedly  asked  them  to  remove  posts,  &c,  upon 
their  five  roads,  taken  as  they  are  set  irregular,  acknowl- 
edged by  one  of  the  best  engineers  from  a  city.  "  They 
shall  do  nothing  about  it."  Said  engineer  proving,  in  his 
survey,  more  land  in  railroad  "bed  than  the  profile  affirms. 
I  said  to  the  engineer,  "How  shall  I  remove  those  posts — the 
directors  will  never  have  it  done  ?"  "  I  should  take  an  axe 
and  knock  them  over." 

Reader,  I  will  commence  again,  July,  1870.  As  I  have 
told  you,  of  owning  by  heirship,  seven  and  a  half  acres 
of  land,  which  the  North  BrookfiVd  Railroad  ruins  in 
many  ways,  the  income  of  which  has  been  stated  here- 
tofore, selling  my  grass  standing,  etc.,  this  July,  not  an 
offer  (bear  in  mind  reader,  the  railroad  ring  are  vigor- 
ously running  their  underground  railroad  to  shut  off  my 
income,  and  thus  to  have  an  argument  which  will  soon  be 
related).  I  bestirred  myself  to  sell  my  crop  of  grass  to  A.  B. 
C  without  avail;  finally  hearing  that  John  Sherman,  whose 
wife  is  second  cousin  of  mine,  and  a  very  weak  minded  lady, 
had  moved  into  the  village  in  absolute  need  of  assistance, 
being  a  coal  truck  driver,  and  formerly  living  with  his  bachelor 
brother-in-law  (Peniman  Tyler,  great  singing  teacher),  whom 
report  says  Sherman  had  run  through  "  Penn's  "  property, 
and  his  name  held  also  for  $1,000.  Mr.  Daniel  Whiting 
advised  me  to  get  Sherman  to  cut  my  grass,  on  conditions, 
etc.  Next  morning  I  started  for  Cork  to  find  John  ;  before 
I  reached  that  isle,  I  met  John  Sherman,  and  I  appealed 
to  him  for  a  trade,  etc.     "  Oh,  I  am  tired  to  death  of  hay* 


63 

ing — I  have  all  I  can  do,  and  more  too.     You  could  not 
induce  mo  to  cut  it,  if  you'd  give  me  the  whole  crop." 

Before  I  reached  my  home,  I  met  Captain  D.  W.  Lane, 
be  saving  if  I  did  not  succeed  in  selling  my  grass — he  would, 
after  his  haying,  see  it  was  harvested,  &c.  ;  oh,  this  pulling 
up-hill,  all  done  by  that  old  railroad  ;  my  two-acre  mowing 
was  a  highway  for  six  months.  I  shall  not  have  half  crop 
anyhow  ;  thus  I  soliloquized.  Anecdote — "A  certain  gentle- 
man being  asked,  why  it  was  he  talked  so  much  to  himself." 
"  For  two  reasons,  sir  :  First,  I  like  to  talk  to  a  sensible 
person  ;  Second,  I  like  to  hear  a  sensible  person  talk. 
Now,  bide  your  time."  26th  July,  in  comes  neighbor :  "  Well, 
John  Sherman  has  concluded  to  cut,  or  bought  your  grass." 
"  I  hud  not  heard  so  ;  did  you  hear  who  made  the  trade?" 
&c.  "  I  heard  Belding  sav  so  :  he  wanted  to  sell  Sherman 
some  hay  to  pay  him  for  cutting  his,  as  he  had  to  feed  his 
ho.ses  without  being  asked  at  noon  ;  Sherman  boldly  pitch- 
ing in  his  cart  for  their  night,  want,  &c.  Sherman  hain't 
a  forkfull  of  anything  for  those  two  horses  ;  one  is  Penn's 
and  the  other  Ben.  Dean's."  "  I'll  just  start  for  that  driver, 
and  see  if  I  can't  rescue  him  from  further  robbery  more, 
thus  accomplishing  a  twofold  object,  helping  myself  and 
cousin  John  S.,  too."  At  John  Sherman's  door,  he  shouts, 
"  Come  in,  Mrs.  Hill."  "Please  excuse  me  for  this  untimely 
call.  I  have  just  been  told  you  had  bought  my  grass,  ha, 
ha!  haven't  you  got  your  haying  done  ,  nor  haven't  you 
bought  it ;  ha,  ha  !"  "  I'll  tell  you,  Mis.  Hill,  I'll  be  down 
to-morrow  morning,  and  buy  your  grass.  Less  trade  now." 
"  You  may  cut  it  at  the  halfs,  or  I  will  sell  it  standing 
$12^  per  ton."  "I  will  give  you  812^  per  ton,  and  pay  in 
thirty  days."  Agreed.  "  Mr.  Sherman,  I  want  two  tons  of 
coal  put  into  my  house  and  barn  the  earliest  time  possible; 
can  you  deliver  as  before,  for  me?"  "  Yes  ;  and  will  put  it 
in  within  thirty  days,  and  the  balance  as  before."  "Agreed." 
That  man  cut  two  mowings,  and  housed  in  the  next  two  days, 
amounting  to  $17.62,  what  had  been  sold  standing,  in  1871, 
for  $85,  to  John  Rusk. 

I  informed  G.  H.  DeBevoise  of  Sherman's  proceedings, 
etc.     Said  DeBevoise  told  me  he  would  see  said  gentleman, 


69 

that  if  I  would  not  enforce  the  law  be  would  bring  about 
payment.     Sherman  is  a  church  member  in  regular  standing. 

Mr.  DeBevoise  did  advise  him  to  pay  me  as  report  has  it. 
Not  one  cent  have  I  received  yet.  I  have  also  appealed  to 
Deacon  Haskill,  Deacon  Thurston,  Deacon  Porter  and  Dea- 
con Montague,  said  deacons  officiating  under  G.  H.  DeBe- 
voise, Lewis  Whiting,  Walter  Howe,  members. 

Deacons  Porter  and  Montague,  (very  wealthy)  both  being 
brothers-in-law  to  Sherman  by  marriage,  say  nothing  of  that 
"  double  distilled  brotherhood."  They,  hearing  my  com- 
plaint, said  :  "We  will  investigate,  etc."  Due  time  I  asked 
them  the  result  of  their  investigation.  Deacon  Thurston  said  : 
"  He  has  offered  to  pay  you,"  etc.  He  has  used  those  words 
and  nothing  more,  gentlemen.  I  caused  Esquire  Barnes  to 
write  to  him  to  meet  Mrs.  Hill  at  his  office  such  an  evening 
(waiting  for  Sherman  to  do  his  day's  work  and  have  supper)  to 
settle  a  claim  for  hay,  etc.,  and  to  bring  the  bills  of  the  same. 
After  waiting  nearer  two  hours  than  one  he  came,  saying  he 
would  pay  for  the  hay  he  had,  but  he  should  not  cut  my  garden 
nor  draw  my  coal.  "  Very  well,  sir,  I  will  take  the  money." 
Barnes :  "Sherman,  give  me  the  weight  bills."  Sherman  opens 
them  with  rapidity,  and  throws  them  on  the  table.  "There 
you  have  'm."  Barnes  begins  figuring ;  before  he  could 
complete  tho  same,  Sherman  says :  "  Barnes,  here 
is  $20,"  (I  looking  and  noticing  every  move — he  had 
folded  a  bill  in  his  hand,  clinching  it  tight — Barnes  nor 
I  had  no  means  of  knowing  what  it  was  but  Sher- 
man's word,)  adding,  you  take  pay.  Barnes  :  "  No,  we  will 
square  it  all  up  in  a  minute."  Sherman  starts  for  the  door, 
saying  :  "  Barnes,  I'll  be  in  to-morrow  and  see  you."  "Mr. 
Sherman,  I  wish  this  settled  to-night,  I  cannot  come  here  to- 
morrow. If  you  have  a  $20  bill,  show  it.  You  have  not, 
nor  don't  intend  to  pay  one  cent."  He  fiendishly  grins  and 
says  :     "  Barnes,  I'll  see  you  to-morrow." 

"  Mrs.  Hill,  I  think  he  will  come  in."  Sherman  was  down 
stairs  by  the  time  the  above  was  uttered.  "Mr.  Barnes,  did 
you  see  anything  to  make  you  know  Sherman  had  $20?" 
Barnes  :  "  No,  not  at  all."  When  Sherman  landed  at  the  foot 
of  the  stairs  he  volunteers  as  follows :  "  I've  just  offered  Miss 


70 

Hill  $20,  to  pay  for  her  hay,  and  she  won't  take  it.  "When  I 
offer  it  again  you  let  me  know."  Into  Chas.  Duncan's  store, 
and  repeats  the  same,  at  Tim.  Clark's  and  W.  Dean's  and 
Sargent's  fish  market.  Next  morning  he  calls  on  Barnes  and 
demands  the  weigh-bilis;  and  Barnes  gives  them  up,  saying 
he  wasn't  read}7  to  pay,  and  more  than  that  he  should  not 
pay  Miss  Hill  till  he  got  ready.  In  p.  M.  I  called  on 
Barnes,  and  he  stated  the  above,  adding,  sometime  in  the 
course  of  time,  "Sherman  is  such  a  hard  ticket  you  may  get 
a  chance  to  collect  the  same."  Reader,  that  is  all  the  kind 
of  offer  from  Sherman  I  have  had.  But  Sherman  received 
from  me  kindly  aid  while  getting  said  hay,  besides  his  horses 
living  upon  it  both  days.  The  stolen  hay  lasted  Sherman 
till  the  law,  enforced  by  others,  took  the  horses  out  of  his 
barn,  and  said  hay  not  quite  consumed  he  boarded  a  French- 
man's horse  to  finish  the  same.  And  the  church  members 
had  their  coal  drawn  $1  per  ton,  by  Sherman,  and  other 
servile  labor  proportionately  cheaper,  saving  said  men 
dollars,  more  or' less,  by  Sherman  having  my  timely  hay. 

Sherman,  report  has  it,  is  often  intoxicated,  though  he  has 
signed  the  pledge  recently — a  fearful  specimen  of  untruth- 
fulness, yet  a  member  in  regular  standing  in  DeBcvoise's 
church.  I  just  said  to  DeBevoise,  about  three  months  since, 
one  Thursday,  before  communion,  "  I  would  like  to  have  you 
remind  Sherman,  as  he  is,  with  you,  about  to  commemorate 
the  dying  love  of  Christ,  while  his  mind  may  be  in  a  tender 
state,  Mrs.  Hill  (widow)  needs  the  pay  for  her  hay  very 
much."     DeBevoise:   "  Yes,  'em." 

Headers  keep  tally  of  names. 

In  August  I  attended  the  Teachers'  County  Institute 
at  Milbrev,  Mass.  North  Brookfield  was  well  represented, 
it  being  the  County  Institution.  I  think  I  am  the  only  one 
belonging  to  National,  American  and  State  Teachers' 
Institutes  in  N.  Brookfield. 

I  went  to  the  Centennial  alone  in  November,  1876.  On 
reaching  New  York  I  crossed  over  to  Brooklyn,  to  Bev.  Henry 
"W.  Beecher's,  hoping  thus  suddenly  (without  cards  or  pre- 
vious letters)  to  find  Mrs.  Catherine  Beecher,  but  doomed  to 
disappointment,   seeing   only   Mrs.  H.  W.  Beecher ;     Miss 


-    71 

Beeclier  absent  and  in  very  poor  health.  Returning  at  once  to 
New  York,  Broadway,  calling  at  American  Institute,  of  which 
I  have  been  a  member,  to  get  my  certificates  and  photograph. 
And  in  the  same  block,  in  Browne's  Phonographic  College,  I 
learned  and  paid  for  two  lessons  in  phonography,  Mrs. 
Browne  saying  I  had  made  more  proficiency  than  many  stu- 
dents in  college  in  three  months.  Seeing  right  there,  were 
Fowler  and  Wells,  that  old  acquaintance  Fowler  examining 
my  head  in  public,  in  North  Brookfield,  Mass.,  in  1847.  Said 
gentleman  giving  me  a  wonderful  cranium,  of  course  gave 
me  audacity  to  renew  acqaintauce,  and  see  what  he  thought 
thirty  years  had  added  to  the  above  capacity ;  I  met  only 
Wells,  and  talked  with  him  an  hour  or  more.  I  ought  to 
have  said  while  in  Browne's  college,  Mrs.  Browne  invited  mo 
to  call  with  her  at  Dr.  Holton's  genealogical  compiler,  where 
we  dined  about  7  p.m.  I  think  it  was  the  Astor  House,  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Browne  introduced  me,  paying  my  bill,  in  advance 
for  me.  The  house  was  on  the  European  plan.  Header, 
have  patience  with  me  about  names.  Remember  my  guide 
books  are  at  my  cottage  home.  The  above  mentioned  places 
I  hope  to  call  at  ere  I  leave  this  city,  notwithstanding  my 
outside  apparel  is  poor  indeed.  But  I  guess  they  will  give 
me  a  hearing.  Now  off  for  the  Centennial ;  at  the  mammoth 
depot,  at  the  right  office,  I  presented  my  ticket.  "  The  Bound 
Brook  train  has  just  gone  (not  ten  minutes)  ;  you  will  have  to 
wait  about  two  hours,  &e. ;  go  to  that  further  seat"  (point- 
ing to  the  last  door).  I  went  and  stayed  some  long  fa'we  before 
another  passenger  came  for  said  train,  but  just  before  start- 
ing hundreds  packed  there.  When  the  gate  opened  I  was 
first,  and  the  first  to  show  my  ticket  to  the  officer  stationed. 
He  looked  it  over,  "  Madam,  you're  all  right,  go  to  the  last 
car  on  this  second  track."  I  demurred.  "  We  begin  to  fill  up 
at  further  end,"  (pointing).  I  did  just  as  I  was  told.  The 
car  none  too  good  for  four-footed  beasts.  Nevertheless,  it 
was  soon  packed,  not  an  extra  seat  for  the  many  more 
searching. 

All  aboard — we  are  off.  In  due  time  conductor  takes  my 
ticket.  "You  are  on  the  wrong  train,  madam  ;  yon  must  pay 
me  so  and  so."   "  That  I  shall  not  do,  sir.  I  have  been  waiting 


72 

two  hours  for  this  train.  I  was  told  at  the  ticket  office  to 
take  such  a  seat  at  such  a  gate,  which  I  did ;  not  another 
individual  there  at  the  time.  When  the  gate  opened,  I  was 
first  to  give  my  ticket  to  the  officer  in  charge  there,  and  he 
told  me  I  was  all  right,  and  directed  me  to  this  very  car  I  am 
in,  sir,"   "  That's  so,"  came  from  three  or  four  I  was  next  to. 

Conductor  :  "  That's  nothing  to  me ;  I  must  have  that 
fare,  so  and  so,  or  you  must  get  off  the  train." 

"  I  shall  not  pay  you  one  cent,  sir.  You  see  here,  sir  ;  my 
ticket,  bought  at  North  Brookfield,  Mass.,  to  Philadelphia 
and  return.  And,  sir,  I  am  in  this  car  by  officers  directing 
the  traveler.  You  can  stop  the  train  and  put  me  off,  the  re- 
sult of  which  will  be  a  legal  investigation  of  the  same." 

Conductor  :  "  Madam,  I'll  look  this  up."     On  he  goes. 

Reader,  there  was  no  other  one  in  this  car  to  be  ousted.  I 
began  thinking  aloud — an  old  habit.  That  officer  thought 
me  a  countrywoman.  Now  for  some  extra  change,  arranged  lor 
before  ;  but  the  "  sharks  "  got  hold  of  the  wrong  "greenhorn" 
this  time.  A  general  snicker,  and  louder,  roused  me  to  know 
I  had  some  audience.  At  the  same  time  a  gentleman  coming 
to  me  said,  "  Madam,  they  got  hold  of  just  the  right  one  this 
time.  Permit  me  to  render  you  a  little  assistance  at  this 
time."  "Thanks — please  investigate  with  the  conductor."  In 
due  time  the  said  gentleman  returns  with  the  conductor,  bow- 
ing and  taking  his  seat.  Conductor  said,  "  You  can  stop  at 
Newark.  Wait  there  till  four  o'clock.  I  will  see  you  are  sent 
to  the  depot  for  the  Bound  Brook  train,"  &c.  "  Thanks — what 
time  shall  I  reach  Philadelphia?"  Such  a  time  in  the  eve- 
ning !  The  train  stops.  That  gentleman  (minister)  rose,  took 
mv  linen  bag,  <fcc,  with  conductor,  and  helped  me  off  the  train 
— conductor  ordering  the  hackman  to  convey  this  lady  at  once 
to  such  a  depot  for  Bound  Brook  train.  Minister  (for  he 
looked  and  acted  just  like  one  called  of  God),  shaking  hands, 
said,  "  I  wish  you  success  and  much  pleasure  the  rest  of  your 
journey." 

Conductor.  "  I  the  same."     And  they  are  off. 

Here,  in  Newark,  I  am  stopped,  not  by  my  carelessness, 
but  by  man's  greed  to  get  the  dollar  without  giving  an 
equivalent.     But  I  will  see  and  learn  from  every  crook  and 


73 

corner  round  about.  I'll  get  so  much  into  my  head,  that 
land  sharks  can't  get  hold  of.  On  the  train,  and  I  am 
seated  with  a  stately,  richly  and  well  designed  dressed  lady, 
whose  white  hair  and  general  look  spoke  sixty  years  and 
more.  We  readily  engaged  in  conversation,  and  the  unfold- 
ing brought  out  her  special  troubles,  her  rich  grounds  and 
fruits  corporations  had  taken  to  build  such,  and  such  men 
in  business,  so,  and  so  ruining  the  looks  of  her  inherited 
residence,  and  the  one  place  she  had  lived  in  previous  to  her 
husband's  death  taking  thousands  and  rendering  for  the  same 
a  nominal  sum.  "  I  could  not  bear  to  stay  there.  I  sold  out, 
but  have  ever  been  sorry  I  did  sell  my  home.  You  and  I 
are  too  far  advanced  in  life  to  sell  out  and  rove  like  these  pil- 
grims, who  stay  a  year  or  few  months  here,  and  then  off.  And 
too  many  seek  such  a  life  to  rob  their  living  from  the  honest 
industries  of  others."  As  she  is  about  to  leave  the  train  — 
"  You  and  I  have  met,  as  it  were,  strangers  in  a  bond  of 
sympathy,  and  as  I  am  the  eldest  let  me  say  to  you,  from 
my  experience,  keep  your  home  unless  driven  out  by  fiends, 
with  which  the  world  so  abounds."     A  shake.     Gone. 

Another  lady  coming  to  me,  who  came  to  the  depot  at 
Newark,  and  had  heard  the  conversation  more  or  less,  ad- 
vised me  to  get  off  at  next  station  with  her,  and  there  await 
(she  would  wait  with  me,  as  her  home  was  there)  till  I  could 
take  a  train  for  Bound  Brook.  And  she  would  advise  me  to 
stay  over  night  there  and  rest,  if  I  was  near  as  weary  as  I 
looked.  The  hotel  at  Bound  Brook  was  just  across  the 
street  from  depot.  A  nice  house,  reasonable  prices,  and  of 
the  best  in  every  way  for  your  need.  Soon  I  am  on  the  train, 
in  the  seat  in  front  of  me  is  a  little  boy,  four  years  of  age, 
bright  and  beautiful.  We  made  quick  acquaintance,  and  I 
soon  had  several  kisses  from  his  sweet  cheeks.  His  aunty 
with  him  says  he  is  a  great  pet  every  where,  and  living  in  a 
hotel  gives  him  a  great  deal  of  presense  for  his  age. 
I  am  directed  to  such  a  hotel.  It  is  this  boy's  father's. 
Boy — "  You  going  home  with  me '?"  The  father  comes  from 
smoking  car.  Thus  strangers  form  acquaintance.  My  bed, 
my  food  was  the  very  best,  and  more  by  far  than  that  was 
the  parlor  hospitality    and   sociability,  that  was  so  much  in 


74 

the  example  of  the  life  our  Saviour  gave  us,  the  fruits  thereof 
I  was  the  recipient.  I  regret  I  cannot  give  the  name. 
It  was  a  democratic  house,  and  a  rallying  open  air  meeting 
was  held  in  front  of  said  hotel,  every  word  of  which 
I  could  hear  iu  my  room.  Their  truths  uttered,  they  helped 
to  lull  me  to  sleep.  Next  morning,  about  8  o'clock,  I  was  on 
right  train  for  Centennial  grounds  reaching  there  about  noon, 
coach  conveying  me  to  Atlas  hotel  where  I  had  a  room  till  I 
left.  Friday  about  7  A.  M.  I  commenced  explorations,  be- 
fore an  hour  had  gone  after  my  arrival  upon  said  grounds, 
and  sped  my  way  this  way  and  that,  unconscious  of  people 
but  things.  How  soon  dark  !  I  had  not  thought,  how  shall 
I  get  back  to  the  Atlas  hotel  again  ?  First,  inquiry — 
"  such  a  hack,  such  a  way,"  &c.  I  was  directed  as  the  best 
way  into  a  street  off  the  grounds  (just  tho  worst  way),  and 
by  indefatigable  perseveranco  ran  on.  At  last  those  long 
dining  halls  came  in  sight.  My  thinking  out  loud — that's 
the  Atlas  hotel  kitchens.  "  Are  you,  lady,  wishing  to  go 
there  ?"  So  much  for  thinking  out  loud.  "  Yes."  "  We 
are  going  there — wo  have  stopped  there  the  past  week." 
The  parties  speaking  were  two  women  hanging  on  one  man. 
Very  suspicious  looking  to  me.  Soon  in  the  great  reception 
room,  and  clusters  of  mortals  were  round  the  tables  in  every 
direction.  As  I  aimed  to  go  direct  for  my  linen  bag,  <fcc, 
"  Do  stop  here  a  moment,  lady,  you  look  as  though  you 
could  not  get  up  stairs  without  help,"  etc.  "lam  very  weary, 
(the  man  and  other  lady  going  in  different  directions — from 
the  moment  that  woman  spoke  to  mo  I  knew  they  were  pick- 
pockets, as  if  it  were  spoken  from  heaven),  but  fully  compe- 
tent to  do  all  I  have  to  do."  Lady:  "You  here  alone?" 
"  Yes."  "  That  lady  and  her  husband  that  have  gone  to 
supper — "  "  They  have  supper  in  different  directions."  A 
cooler.  "  I  was  going  to  say,  I  room  alone  next  to  theirs, 
and  I  would  like  to  have  you  room  with  me.  We  both  show 
we  have  no  abundance  of  money."  "  My  room  is  engaged  and 
paid  for."  "Pray  what  number  is  it?"  "None  of  your  business!" 
I  "went  to  the  baggage  office  corner.  I  pointed  out  the  lady 
to  a  gentleman,  telling  him  her  conversation.  Says  porter, 
"  I  think  she  is  the  very  one  last  week  we  suspected  or  allud- 


75 

ed  to — go,  look,  Joe."  A  waiter,  going  up  stairs  to  ray  room 
with  my  bag,  &c,  after  bringing  me  refreshment,  informed 
me  a  man  had  just  found  his  watch  was  stolen.  "Am  I  secure 
in  this  horse  stall  ?"     Laughing.     "  Yes." 

My  rest  was  poor  ;  my  gas-light  revealing  the  bedbugs 
around  the  hole  of  the  gas-pipe,  in  boards  and  ceiling.  I 
finished  a  newspaper  almost  in  killing  them  as  they  entered, 
with  their  gore  marking,  by  my  handy  designs,  Palestine,  so 
deftly  plotted  on  the  Centennial  grounds.  Next  morning  I 
was  on  the  ground  about  the  first,  swiftly  viewing  in  the  main 
building;  I  came  to  the  manger  where  the  Saviour's  horned 
ox  was  produced,  and  wise  men  of  the  East,  &c,  were  to  be 
seen.  I  lingered  in  reverie.  A  simple  mind,  beautiful  in 
outward  dress,  spoke  to  me  :  "  Do  you  suppose  this  is  really 
the  stable  Christ  was  born  in?"  As  I  looked  at  her,  this  pas- 
sage came  in  my  mind,  "  Answer  a  fool  according  to  his 
folly,"  &c.  "  Oh,  yes  ;  the  mode  of  conveyance  is  such  now-a- 
days  we  can  transport  anything,  of  whatever  name,  or  nature," 
and  passed  on  with  disgust,  that  a  young  woman  that 
could  put  so  much  dry  goods  about  her,  and  be  such  an  igno- 
rant fool — thus  my  proiound  reverie  was  broken.  The  cruci- 
fixion  next  held  me  long ;  and,  reader,  I  seu  that  statuary 
this  moment  as  plain  as  my  pen  and  paper;  and  "My  Im- 
prisonment in  the  Felon's  Cell,"  by  Both  well,  was  so  parallel, 
the  thought  of  which  makes  the  blood. rush  to  my  cheeks  as 
if  to  burst  the  skin.  Another  .frail  voice  says,  "Have  you 
seen  what  I  call  'Niagara  Falls?'"  "No,  what  do  you 
mean  ?"  "  Oh,  where  all  the  engines  are  pouring  water." 
That  'Niagara'  was  no  more  to  be  compared  to  that  stu- 
pendous, awful  grandeur,  than  so  many  squirt-guns.  Nor 
Corlis'  wheel  was  not  so  much  of  a  sight  to  me  as  "  Has- 
kell's last-factory  wheel,"  seen  in  1837. 

One  more  ecstacy :  "  Have  you  seen  the  '  Butter  Image?' '' 
"Yes."  "  Was  it  wonderful ?""  "  No  ;  all  that  is  wonderful  to 
me  about  it  is  the  chemical  principles  with  which  it  is  sur- 
rounded."    "  Why,  I  think  it  the  greatest  of  wonders." 

Header,  my  time  was  a  dead  loss  while  I  was  in  file,  going 
up  and  down  that  passage  to  see  that  image.  I  would  not 
turn  round  in  my  shoes  to  look  at  it  again. 


76 

On  entering  the  art  building,  I  will  not  pen  any  thoughts — 
that  till  in y  soul  to  overflowing.  After  a  time  I  moved  a  few 
yards  to  the  right,  where  the  Cain  and  Abel  statuary  stood. 
The  little  fellows,  about  two  feet  high,  beautiful — so  beautiful 
to  the  mother  who  loves  little  boj's — the  left  arm  resting  on 
each  waist.  Abel's  countenance  full  of  frank,  loving  spirit; 
had  not  so  many  been  around  I  should  have  kissed  Abel. 
Cain  equally  handsome,  but  close  examined,  there  was  an  un- 
mistakable expression  in  the  eye  and  lip — with  his  right  arm 
drawn  back,  his  little  fist  clinched  tight,  ready  to  hit  the  fatal 
rap.  Thus  Cain,  hugged  with  his  left  arm,  and  ready  to  kiss 
his  brother,  while  the  right  arm  was  executing  his  murderous 
design.  That  is  just  the  treatment  I  have  received  from  citi- 
zens in  my  native  place.  They  have  not  murdered  me,  but 
done  far  worse.  That  building,  and  mostly  every  building 
upon  the  ground,  was  explored  by  my  searching  eye.  And, 
reader,  come  and  talk  with  me,  and  see  how  long  I  can  talk 
of  this,  that  and  all  things  generally  on  the  Centennial 
grounds,  also  to  and  from  the  passage  from  my  own  cottage 
home. 

On  returning  from  the  Centennial,  there  was,  on  the  seat 
in  front  of  me,  a  young  man  from  20  to  25  years  old,  whom 
the  conductor  found  to  be  on  the  wrong  train.  The  young 
man  appeared  to  be  honest  and  unaccustomed  to  travel. 
Some  talk  ensued,  the  conductor  demanded  his  fare,  and  the 
young  man  handed  him  a  five  dollar  bill  to  take  it  from. 
When  the  conductor  gave  back  the  change,  I  said  to  the 
young  man,  "  that  conductor  would  have  drawn  out  leviathan 
with  a  hook,  before  he  would  that  money  from  me."  Some 
cautious  advice  I  gave  him,  for  I  had  seen  new  needs  all  the 
time  of  my  absence. 

In  the  winter  William  Bacheller  leaves  the  High  School, 
and  applies  to  me  for  instruction.  In  December  27th,  28th, 
and  29th,  I  attended  State  Teachers'  Institute,  Spring- 
field, (of  which  I  am  a  member),  having  a  week's  vacation. 
Willie  recited  till  April  1st,  1877,  taking  in  that  time  eighty 
lessons,  not  losing  a  day  or  changing  the  hour  except  vaca- 
tion— Christmas  week.  In  that  time  he  mastered  physi- 
ology, having  40  or  50  lessons ;  writing    compositions   by 


77 

topics  on  each  lesson.  Commencing  Greenleafs  General 
Arithmetic  at  Percentage,  completing  the  book. 

In  Anderson's  Ancient  History,  he  repeated  to  fourteenth 
century,  in  Mediaeval,  and  through  Single  Entry  in  Fulton 
«fc  Eastman's  Book-keeping. 

Willie  is  thus  enabled  to  be  of  great  service  to  his  father 
in  business  capacity,  having  been  thoroughly  and  practic- 
ally drilled.  And  my  eye  will  follow  the  boy  now,  eighteen 
years  of  age,  till  time  is  no  more  with  us  on  earth. 

December  27th,  1876.— My  fiftieth  birthday  I  was  at  State 
Teachers'  Institute  at  Springfield,  reaching  said  place  about 
noon  on  Whitney's  train,  Whitney  taking  my  ticket  just  past 
Indian  Orchard.  Putting  my  purse  in  my  overskirt  pocket 
when  we  reached  Springfield,  as  I  rose  to  leave  the  car,  tak- 
ing hold  of  said  pocket  going  along,  I  stopped.  My  pocket- 
boolc  is  not  in  my  pocket  I  Man  :  "  You  could  not  have  dropped 
it,  madam.")  My  pocket-book  is  here  within  three  feet, 
raising  my  arm  across  the  aisle.  Man  :  "  Let  the  passengers 
get  out  and  you  will  find  it,  if  dropped."  "The  passengers,  sir, 
can  wait  till  my  pocket-book  is  forthcoming."  (A  smile  pervaded 
the  frail  sex  at  my  imperativeness.)  The  man  was  dressed 
like  a  gentleman.  Man  got  down  on  all  fours  under  the 
seat,  and  soon  came  forth ;  "  You  did  drop  it,  madam."  That 
man  had  the  inside  seat  with  me  in  the  car,  a  perfect 
stranger,  and  he  had  picked  my  pocket.  My  resolute  decis- 
ion alone  found  my  pocket-book.  And  there  has  been  a 
continuation  of  the  same  disposition  manifested  in  different 
ways  toward  me  as  if  to  filch  me  of  my  last  dollar  in  my  old 
age  I 

April  Term,  1877. — Mr.  Kittredge's  railroad  case  to  be 
tried,  the  jury  upon  the  ground  ten  minutes  more  or  less,  and 
have  a  jolly  time  the  remaining  time  in  the  "big  shop"  here 
and  there.  The  lawyers  effect  a  settlement,  and  the  "big 
shop  "  rings.  Kittredge  gets  $.30  after  paying  costs,  &c. 
Readers,  I  have  been  told  the  settlement  was  to  be  told  to 
be,  as  the  assessment.  The  railroad  defendants— -fresh 
courage  take  in  their  success  in  that  mode  of  settlement — 
demanded  Mr.  Tyler's  railroad  case  to  be  tried  this  term 
The  conduct  of  the  jurymen  on  the  Kittredge  case — as  report 


78 

has  it,  their  expression  and  language  over  its  great  appraisal 
— was  heralded  over  town,  and  round  about,  the  other  two 
would  have  the  same  fate.  Mr.  Tyler's  case  was  not  tried. 
Report  has  it  (and  true)  said  church  directors  and  church 
advisors  prayerfully  entreated  Mr.  D. Whiting  making  further 
strides  in  offers  made  by  special  parties,  without  avail. 

Town  meeting,  April,  1877.— Time  changed  by  new  by- 
law from  March  to  April ;   and  the  proceedings  in  seven  by 
nine  room  caucuses  were  many  and  contentious,  as  report 
had  it.     The  railroad  men  were  going  to  oust  Dr.  Tyler  any- 
how, beginning  these  notable  gatherings  with  the  watchword 
"  New  officers,  clean  ticket,"  &c,  &c.     New  board  of  select- 
men and  assessors ;   the  caucuses  were  in  such  a  wrangle. 
DeBevoise  comes  to  the  rescue  by  preaching  the  Sabbath 
previous  to  the  above  day,  to  the  great  disgust  of  many  of 
his  hearers.    Condensed  it  is  this  :  "  Let  well  enough  alone," 
in  tone,  &c,  "  you  have  got  to   do  as  T  say."     DeBevoise's 
spirit  and  the  consequence  of  his  preaching  was  manifest  on 
Monday,  and  this  same  spirit  of  his  in  a  more  ferocious 
degree  manifesting  itself  on  a  future  Monday  in  this  book 
named  "  The  Bears"  (not  of  Wall  street,)  but  North  Brook- 
field,  Mass.,  after  prayer — not  by  DeBevoise — began  their 
work  in  good   earnest.     Chairman   Bates — Now   they   are 
started  with  a  rush,  like  as  "  aforetime."     The  readers  can 
imagine  said  meeting,  which  was  amusing  as  well  as  disgust- 
ing to  me.     Soon  DeBevoise  comes,  with  good  deal  of  vim 
apparent ;  seats  near  my  side.     I  just  bow  ;  no  notice !     I 
will  here  say  that  I  did  not  enter  my  railroad  case  until  the 
December  term  of  the  court,  1876,  waiting  till  within  a  few 
hours  of  time  when  the  year  would  be  ended,  since  the  de- 
cision of  the  County  Commissioner's  award  was  announced 
on  record  at  court,  December  2d,  1875.     Dnnng  that  year  I 
assiduously  made  every  effort  to  have  my  laud  damage  claim 
adjudicated,  the  defendants  well  understanding  the  amount 
that  would  be  required  to  liquidate  the  same ;  but  not  an 
offer  but  the  commissioners,  or  rather  their  own  assessment, 
always  adding,   "  you  will  not  have  anything  to  show  if  you 
go  to  law."     Some  of  the  most  rabid  would  say  to  me :  "  We 
shall  keep  you  in  the  court  till  all  you  have  got  is  spent; 
what  lawyer  will  you  employ  then  ?"  &c. 


79 

Thus  I  have  been  goaded  many  times  by  church  members 
move  than  by  those  not  within  "  that  vail."  The  first  time 
I  met  DcBevoise  after  the  railroad  directors'  notification  of 
the  above  suit  pending,  he  did  not  see  me;  other  times  he 
would  evade  me  by  circuiting  ;  in  fact  it  is  my  best  judgment 
he  has  not  so  much  as  bowed  his  head  when  unavoidably 
meeting  me  a  dozen  times  since  January,  1877,  though  meeting 
me  fifty  times  more  or  less.  It  took  me  long,  ere  I  could 
allege  to  him  his  weakness,  so  often  promulgated  by  others, 
and  when  obliged  too,  I  thus  announced — DeBe.  has  catered 
to  his  surroundings  till  he  is  emasculated  of  common  sense! 
The  old  board  of  selectmen  was  re-elected,  and  a  new  board 
of  assessors — it  was  a  warfaring  day.  The  meeting  was  ad- 
journed one  week  to  finish  town  business.  Bates  took  it 
upon  himself  to  have  a  new  sexton  to  the  town  hall.  On 
entering  the  hall,  this  second  town  meeting,  by  the  bell  rope 
stood  Bates  hugging  John  Hebard.  (Reader,  the  reason  of 
this  last  character  being  brought  in  is  he  figures  in  the  cell 
during  my  incarceration  there.)  I  stepped  out  to  Duncan  and 
Delvey.  and  told  Delvey  the  above  sight.  Delvey  replied, 
"  Bates  has  got  an  axe  to  grind."  Yes,  and  it's  to  prevent  my 
coming  to  earn  my  daily  papers.  As  one  of  Bates'  expres- 
sions had  been,  "  we  must  shut  Miss  Hill's  wind  all  off."  And 
thus  every  railroad  man  in  town  has  plied  his  influence. 
At  this  meeting  school-room  was  demanded,  and  Dr.  Tyler 
said  he  had  been  looking  at  a  pleasant  large  room,  with  reci- 
tation room,  in  Stone  Block  (said  block  was  built  with  the 
railroad,  thus  aiding  the  builders  from  $500  to  $1,000,  in 
being  furnished  with  stone  from  the  Stoddard  and  King 
quarry  to  build  up  an  immense  fill  for  said  building,  grading 
the  road,  etc.,  improved  the  looks  and  prospects  of  dwelling- 
stands  thousands  of  dollars) ;  said  room  was  rented  for  the 
purpose  at  once.  DeBe.  being  one  of  the  school  committee 
though  he  had  announced  in  every  examination  he  should 
not  remain  on  the  committee,  for  reasons,  etc.,  another  year. 
DeBe.  being  a  supply  at  that  time  through  resignation  of  liis 
predecessor.  At  this  town  meeting  somebody  was  like  to  be 
elected  that  had  not  been  railroad,  etc.  DeBe.  breaks  right 
in  and  gets  his  name  re-elected  without  one  word  of  scruple 


80 

apparent.  Thus  DeBe.  is  school  committee  for  '77.  In 
the  Post  Office  I  met  DeBe.,  and  said  to  him,"Mr.  DeBevoise 
I  wish  you  to  consider  me  an  applicant  to  teach  the  school 
in  Stone  Block.  You,  sir,  know  well  my  qualifications," — De- 
Be.  going  from  me  while  speaking — "you  will  thus  inform  the 
other  committee."  DeBe.:  "Yes'm."  The  week  had  not 
ended  before  I  was  informed  John  Hebard  was  going  to  stop 
my  coming  into  that  hall,  he  be  d — d  if  lie  would  seat  mo 
(well  knowing  there  would  never  be  a  chance).  I'll  kick  up 
something  that  will  land  her  to  the  bottom  of  the  stairs."  I 
was  in  the  hall  a  few  times  while  he  was  janitor,  but  avail- 
ing myself  of  other  escort.  Said  Hebard,  from  truthful  re- 
ports, is  not  trustworthy,  and  thus  held  by  honorable  citizens. 
In  due  time  De  B.  resigns,  and  is  succeeded  by  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Avann,  (Methodist).     See  the  card  play. 

June  25th,  1877. — Not  one  offer  to  purchase  my  grass. 
The  prospects  of  a  medium  crop  appeared  good,  Therefore 
Patrick  O'Brien  and  Robert  Morse  were  hired  by  me  to 
harvest,  &c,  my  grass.  Mrs.  "Wm.  H.  Ayres,  in  whose  em- 
ploy is  Robert  Morse  (colored),  rented  me  her  large  heavy 
span  of  horses,  mowing  machine,  cart,  and  tools  generally, 
my  haying  going  on  with  rapidity.  I  will  say  here,  father 
used  to  cut  this  two-acre  lot  first,  my  grass  being  early ; 
therefore  if  the  hay  was  to  be  made  under  rny  supervision,  it 
must  be  in  season  for  so  doing  ;  I  after  cut  over  a  ton  of 
first  quality  of  rowen. 

I  also  employed  Thomas  Ashby  and  his  son  Fred,  to  take 
up  half  of  scaffold  floor,  and  use  the  same  in  framing  a 
partition  below,  thus  adding  "  bay  "  to  my  whole  scaffold, 
giving  me  ample  storage  room  for  seven  or  eight  tons  of 
hay.  "My  hay  being  cut,  <fec,  by  the  best  team  in  the 
town,  current  report ;"  and  it  was  a  true  one.  My  haying 
was  first  of  all,  complete  in  barn,  June  30th,  having  saved  four 
tons  and  more  of  best  quality  and  make.  While  the  men 
were  at  work,  I  carried  them  fresh  cold  prepared  drink  and 
lunch  a.  M.  and  p.  M.,  not  forgetting.  Als^o  directed  in  all 
which,  and  how,  by  the  men  asking  me,  raking  after  cart 
as  politely  as  croquet  moves,  rushing  seventy-five  hay  covers 
(from  Mr.  Haston)  when  a  shower  appeared,  to  protect  the 


81 

food  for  dumb  beasts,  putting  most  all  on,  without  assistance 
upon  bundles  of  liny,  sixty-five  in  number,  with  thunder  and 
lightning,  and  ere  the  pins  were  all  fastened,  I  was  drenched 
more  thoroughly  than  by  immersion.  Reader,  I  am  a 
terrible  sufferer  from  rheumatism,  and  am  affected  the  worst 
in  hot  weather.  And  since  my  physical  constitution  was 
completely  wrecked  by  the  ball  club  blow,  the  least  extra 
exercise  will  throw  me  into  dripping  perspiration,  obliging 
me,  for  my  own  nervous  endurance,  to  change  my  apparel 
three  or  four  times  per  day,  if  not  a  dozen  of  times,  and 
at  the  same  time  using  crash  towel  with  salt,  wormwood 
regulator  or  hot  drops,  taking  regulator  at  said  times  which 
is  hot  drops,  and  more  so,  having  other  ingredients,  making 
it  a  great  medicinal  for  me  in  staving  off  rheumatism. 

Paying  O'Brien  $2.75  per  day,  and  dinners,  &c,  Morse  $2 
per  day,  &c. 

Span,  &c,  $5  per  day,  and  had  I  been  as  wise  the  summer 
of  1876,  I  could  have  $50  income  clear,  instead  of  Sher- 
man's nothing. 

July  6th,  1877. — Whiting  and  Stoddard's  case  was  tried 
before  a  sheriff's  jury  in  July  ;  the  hearing  occupied  five  days 
more  or  less.  I  was  present  two  days,  long  enough  to  see  the 
spirit  of  the  parties  concerned.  Mr.  De  Bevoise  was  present 
all  the  time  I  was  there,  and  report  said  all  through  the  five 
days,  and  the  anxiety  depicted  on  his  countenance,  and  his 
coming  forward  as  if  to  put  words  in  their  mouths,  awhile  he 
was,  with  right  hand  upon  Mrs.  Bartlett's  or  Miss  Stoddard's 
chair;  at  last  he  detected  with  his  scrutinizing  eye,  as  he  calls 
it,  a  spicier.  DeBevoise  :  "  Mrs.  Bartlett,  there  is  a  spider 
in  your  shawl,  I'm  afraid  it  will  bite  you."  That  little  insect 
in  the  shawl's  folds  was  not  larger  than  a  fly  speck.  I 
had  to  move  for  the  performance.  DeBevoise  could  not 
fail  to  understand  the  expression  of  my  face/  And  such 
testimony  as  was  given  under  oath  by  church  members, 
and  railroad  benefited  men  was  enough  to  fill  one  with 
disgust  and  horror  to  see  how  cheap  their  souls  were  being 
weighed.  I  left.  "Went  to  Montpelier  to  attend  the  Amer- 
ican Institute  of  Instruction,  and  every  hour  was  teeming 
with  new  avenues  of  thought ;  the  citizens,  so  magnanimous, 


82 

were  doubly  munificent,  going,  as  I  did,  from  that  carniv- 
orous scene.  Judge  Aldrich,  Secretary  Dickenson,  late  princi- 
pal of  the  Normal  school,  Westfield  ;  Professor  Walton  and 
many  others  I  am  accustomed  to  meet  at  those  educational 
meetings — no  one  from  North  Brookfield  but  me.  Such 
scenes  are  not  as  attractive  as  the  ball  rooms  for  the  class 
employed,  and  it  is  my  opinion  not  one  teacher  is  a  member 
of  it. 

July  6th  and  7th,  Stoddard  Court. — Tim  Clark,  merchant, 
cheap  freight  recipient,  occupied,  as  report  has  it,  a  whole 
day  in  Sheriff's  Court,  costing  $100,  trying  to  save  railroad 
defendants.  Report  had  it  court  expenses  were  $200  per 
day.  Thus  it  is  apparent  that  the  town  railroad  defendants 
must  have  expended  in  law  in  railroad  suits  nearer  $1,500 
than  $1,000.  I  think  a  town  meeting  ought  to  be  called,  and 
a  legal  vote  taken  as  to  how  much  money  shall  the  town  raise 
to  pay  for  railroad  law  suits  pending  before  another  suit  is 
tried ;  because  Bates,  &c,  have  repeatedly  said  that  they 
should  keep  Miss  Hill  in  court  till  she  would  not  have  a  cent 
left.  My  advice  to  these  railroad  lunatics  is,  hadn't  you 
better  consider  the  statutes  awhile ;  peradventure  Mrs.  Hill 
may  find  even  in  Massachusetts  counsel,  that  Bates  masons, 
"  big  shop"  Bacheller,  cannot  bribe,  therefore  statutes  may 
be  vindicated. 

July  10th,  11th,  12th,  at  Montpelier  Institute.— The  12th, 
4  o'clock  p.  M.,  I  leave  the  lecture  hall,  as  all  were  requested 
thus  to  do  who  had  heard  Prof.  Marshall  and  seen  his  cal- 
cium Yosemite  views,  that  the  hundreds  of  citizens  might 
have  a  chance  to  enter  the  hall  and  thus  be  recipients  of 
some  benefit  to  be  cherished  in  their  memories  while  they 
had  given  so  generously  and  munificently  of  their  rich 
heritage  for  the  comfort  of  hundreds  of  teachers  and  profess- 
ors. I  wish*to  mention  the  Capitol  building,  though  I  had 
read  descriptions  thereof,  the  stately  grandeur  of  which  was 
never  realized  in  the  least  until  I  mounted  those  stone  steps, 
and  entering,  .going  through  the  different  historical  rooms. 
In  the  Senate  Chamber  and  Representative  Hall,  being 
chosen  speaker,  I  was  seated  in  the  judge's  chair  in  both 
departments,   my   decision    adjourning  the   court  in  both 


83 

"  Houses."  We  then  mounted  the  tower  ;  being  so  dizzy,  a 
gentleman  escort  had  to  hold  me  with  considerable  aid  when 
in  the  highest  audience  room  "viewing  the  prospect  o'er." 
To  look  down  around  I  was  too  giddy  to  see  but  very  little, 
but  in  the  nigh  distance  those  mountain  tops  round  about, 
those  hills  and  vales,  and  all  upon  them  so  plain  to  be  seen 
by  my  naked  eye,  I  was  held  long  speechless  in  silent  adora- 
tion to  Almighty  God.  My  guide  and  staff  spoke  :  "  You 
seem  dumb.''  "  Yes  ;  the  glories  to  behold."  I  cannot  look 
down,  oh,  so  sick,  but  when  I  raise  my  eyes  up,  off,  around 
in  the  distance  all  is  clear  as  noon  day.  It  interprets  thus : 
Leave  those  things  about  you,  get  to  those  beyond  and 
above.  I  regret  I  cannot  recall  the  names  of  my  guide  and 
benefactor  and  wife  and  the  three  teachers  near-by  (my  book 
for  names  I  have  not  here). 

In  going  down  we  come  to  the  British  relic  all  readers 
know  about.  And  there  was  a  learned  gentleman  with  his 
half  dozen  lady  teachers,  all  young,  flirty,  very  intelligent 
you  must  know.  The  gentleman  had  asked  each  one  to 
examine  that  relic  and  tell  what  a  certain  mark  meant. 
Not  one  of  those  normal  graduates  had  the  remotest  idea. 
The  gentleman  seeing  me,  says,  "  Madam,  you  come  here  ; 
just  stand  back  ;  let  this  lady  see  ;  call  over  the  different 
parts  of  this  relic."  The  first  announced,  British  private 
mark.  There  the  old  teacher  informs  first  word.  Oh,  so 
little  thinking  is  done  by  students !  I  mean  practical 
thought. 

In  the  law  library  and  the  other.  It  seemed  as  if  I  could 
stay  and  learn  years,  and  not  be  weary.  I  had  bought  tick- 
ets to  Mount  Washington,  paying  $8.75  by  way  of  Wells 
River — going  to  the  summit  from  Montpelier,  returning 
through  Bethlehem,  Littleton,  Franconia  Notch  to  Wells 
River,  thence  to  Worcester  ;  the  round  trip  from  Worcester 
to  Montpelier  was  $8.  $16.75  was  railroad  lares,  and  $30 
less  25  cents,  paid  every  expense  ;  7  days.  Thus  young 
students  travel  to  learn,  and  be  more  in  God's  image. 
Professor  Richards,  wife,  and  sister,  Professor  Oomin  of 
Worcester,  and  others,  took  the  5  o'clock  train  for  White 
Mountains  with    me.      I    bought   and  paid   for  the   first 


84 

excursion  ticket  to  Mount  Washington,  the  agent  sold. 
Three  or  four  teachers  saying,  "  Why  wait  till  you  know  who 
is  going,  etc.  We  are  to  start  at  5  P.M.,  and  I  am  going  if 
the  cars  c  tn,  or  will  carry  me  by  this  ticket."  Agent,  "I  give 
you  a  note  of  introduction  to  the  proprietor  of  Fabyan  House, 
and  your  room  will  be  all  you  can  ask  or  desire."  But  a 
happier  crew  never  was  in  a  car  room,  and  in  ascending  to 
.'the  top  of  Mount  Washington,  6,000  feet,  I  was  not  dizzy 
once.  My  eyes  stopped  not  for  frivolity,  but  was  taking  in 
knowledge,  every  fleeting  moment,  to  feed  my  soul  to  all 
eternity.  The  Crawford  Notch,  the  Bethlehem  House, 
Franeonia  Notch,  the  Cascades  and  Boulder,  the  Flume 
House,  the  Old  Man  of  the  Mountain,  Echo  Lake,  tli8 
thunder  shower  at  my  feet,  the  Cannon  Mountain,  Mount 
Lafayette,  the  basin,  the  pool — each  speaks  volumes  to 
'me  for  meditation.  When  sitting  upon  the  beam  above 
that  huge  boulder  in  Franeonia  Notch,  and  the  waters 
rushing  on  madly,  far,  far  below  me,  I  cried  out,  "Wilt 
thou  not,  Almighty  God,  reveal  to  me  this  wondrous  mys- 
tery, this  work  of  thine  almighty  power,  that  fills  me  with 
awe,  almost  with  terror  ;  yet  adoration  rises  ;  how  great  and 
mighty  are  thy  works !  !  !  What  is  man,  that  thou  art 
mindful  of  him?  "  I  returned  to  hotel,  thus  walking  four- 
teen miles  between  9  A.M.  and  4  p.m.  I  had  no  infirmity  in 
that  mountain  air. 

In  North  Brookfield,  July  31st,  1877,  by  Rev.  G.  H.  DeBe- 
voise,  Charles  A.  French  and  Marion  M.  Smith,  both  of  this 
town.  Notwithstanding  C.  A.  F.  treated  his  companions  in 
"big  shop,"  according  to  its  requirements,  he  was  sere- 
naded August  1st,  at  9:30  P.  M.  In  other  words,  the  very 
vaults  of  heaven  rang  with  the  hideous  noise  of  the  mob, 
who,  with  groans,  yells,  tin  pans  and  horns,  boilers,  brass 
kettles,  all  belched  forth,  as  if  in  interpretation  to  be  under- 
stood by  all— this  is  our  vernacular— in  open  violation  of  the 
Tevised  by-laws  of  the  town,  under  article  fourth,  sections 
first  and  seventh.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  French,  seniors,  being  in 
a  very  feeble  state  of  health;  Mr.  French  lying  at  the  point 
of  death  many  days,  and  his  life  despaired  of  for  weeks, 
was  just  able  to  get  around.     His  wife  was  in  a  recent  para- 


85 

lyzing  condition,  making  them  botli  suffer  intensely  from  the 
savage  noise,  and  insult.  Charles,  seeing  his  father's  and 
mother's  mental  suffering,  was  tempted  almost  to  use  his 
gun,  Charley's  report  has  it  saw  Bothwell  and  Foster.  At 
any  rate,  I  saw  the  Furnace  boy  in  its  scene,  a  boisterous, 
actor  ;  and  I  saw  a  man  in  the  distance  I  culled  BothweH. 
Said  men,  if  it  was  them — and  I  am  very  sure  it  was — did 
not  arrest  any  of  the  party  and  put  them  in  the  felon's  cell, 
but  let  them  bellow  a  long  time,  and  then  said  "dry  up," 
though  their  savage  noise  was  heard  miles,  and  the  kettles, 
trucks,  of  all  descriptions,  left  about  said  French's  yard,  etc. 
I  was  leaving  Alden  Olmstead's  house,  as  some  of  the 
actors  passed  me,  and  took  pains  to  spot  that  proceeding, 
being  reporter,  you  will  remember. 

So  much  for  officers  and  by-laws.     It  was  spoken  of  as  a 
"rich  thing"  by  many  citizens. 

August  17th,  1877.— The  North  Brookfield  little  semi- 
monthly journal  issued  the  following  :  "A  few  days  since  we 
had  the  pleasure  of  conversing  with  a  gentleman  on  this 
subject,  hearing  a  laughable  account  of  his  observations  in  a 
neighboring  town  that  is  out  of  debt.  He  said  there  had 
been  five  suicides  within  two  years.  There  was  no  public  or 
private  enterprise,  a  strawsdiop  had  been  in  operation  but 
the  proprietor  had  moved  the  stock  to  an  adjoining  town 
that  had  a  debt  and  offering  the  buildings  at  ruinous  prices. 
There  were  a  few  young  men,  nearly  all  moving  out  of  town 
when  they  became  of  age,  and  those  that  remained  were 
idiots.  It  all  goes  to  show  that  if  a  tow'n  wishes  any  public 
improvement  it  must  have  money,  and  this  makes  debt,  &c." 
Reader,  I  was  astonished  that  the  editor  had  not  common 
sense  enough  to  know  the  above  mentioned  gentleman  was 
ridiculing  North  Brookfield,  Mass.  Five  suicides  have  taken 
place  within  the  two  years  in  said  North  Brookfield,  two 
of  them  being  so  near  the  "  big  shop  "  had  it  not  been  for 
obstacles  between,  the  blood  and  brains  of  the  two  men  might 
have  sprinkled  posts  at  two  meeting  houses,  Methodist,  and 
First  Congregational  Church,  but  those  marvelously  con- 
structed brains.  Had  there  been  no  obstacles,  which  were 
bespattered  with  brains,  and  blood,  and  said  blood  &c,  had 


86 

readied  the  posts  thereof  they  would  have  called  it  a  "  bibli- 
cal symbol  pass-over,"  I  believe. 

As  for  the  young  men  above  mentioned  (I  ought  to  know) 
I  will  say  this  "It  is  putty  much  so  "  As  for  the  straw- 
shop — I  don't  know,  but  am  informed  on  reliable  authority — 
that  incident  belongs  to  our  midst  also. 

Said  journal  also  states  if  the  Southbridge  and  Brookfield 
Railroad  makes  its  terminus  at  East  Brookfield — and  it 
is  probable  it  will  be — it  will  be  largely  due  to  the  untiring 
efforts  of  T.  C.  Bates  who  has  given  and  is  still  devoting 
much  time  and  attention  to  the  work.  Selah.  Free  rides 
loom  prospectively  in  the  late  glassware  drummer's  mind. 
How  many  dollars  I  shall  have  saved  on  car  fares,  say 
nothing  more,  I  shall  soon«be  railroad  king,"  etc. 

August,  1877. — I  have  decided  to  build  me  a  large  room  15 
feet  by  17  to  join  my  barn  and  wood- house,  giving  me  reci- 
tation room  and  entrance  into  barn,  which  I  have  for  years 
been  saving  of  my  small  income  to  do.    Thirty  years  to-day  I 
laid  my  beautiful  babe  (my  second  born)  in  the  cold,  silent 
tomb.     Thus  my  monument  for  my  four  lost  boys  and  L. 
shall  be  completed  together.     My  wall  must  be. built  this 
fall  round   the   railroad,  to  shield   me  from  those  engine 
spark   fires.      Oh !   how   much   expense   that  railroad  has 
been  to  me.     $300  will  not  draw  the  stone  and  build  the 
wall.     See  the  devastation  of  my  property  to  make  a  dozen 
or  more  icealthy.     And  the  treatment  I  have  received  from 
those  men,  the  illegality  of  their  proceedings  in  open  defi- 
ance of  the  statutes,  makes  them  as  eligible  to  State  prison 
as  the  Northampton  bank  robbers,  and  more  so  ;  they  are 
robbing  the  widows  and  fatherless.     And  my  every  effort 
which  has  been  untiring  has  been  contemptuously  maltreat- 
ed.    In  the  words  of  old  Legree  in  Uncle  Tom's  Cabin, 
"  D — n  you,  we've  got  you  ;  help  yourself  if  you  can."    Thus 
I  am  hampered  by  those  ravenous  wolves  for  monej7.     I  will 
start  this  minute  and  tell  Alden  Bacheller,  who  is  being 
made  from  poor  to  rich  by  this  road,  he  must  without  delay 
remove  the  posts  of  railroad  fence  upon  my  land,  for  I  shall 
build  a  wall  in  September  to  protect  my  mowings.     At  his 
store  I  said :  "  Mr.  Bacheller,  don't  notice  nor  even  look  at  me. 


87 

I  mean  business,  and  at  once."  "  Mrs.  Hill,  I  have  beard 
enough  about  that ;  the  railroad  fence  will  not  be  meddled 
with,  and  I  don't  want  to  hear  anything  more  about  it.  The 
posts  on  my  land  will  be  ousted  if  you  don't  remove  them.  I 
suppose  an-  action  for  trespass  can  be  issued.  I  wish  the 
assistance  you  give  the  lawyers."  "  But  now  hear,  Bacheller, 
.1  never  will  speak  to  you  about  this  or  that  on  railroad  ad- 
justment with  me  again.  The  defendants  will  have  to  apply 
to  me,  or  meet  the  law."  Bacheller  :  "  I  guess  we  can  stand 
the  law  as  long  as  you  can,"  etc.     Exit. 

I  then  made  my  way  to  Mrs.  Wm.  H.  Ayres  to  hire  B. 
Morse  to  cut  my  rowen.  The  rowen  is  cut  and  dried  with- 
out being  wet,  Mr.  Haston  and  Mahoney  assisting.  They 
say  there  is  over  a  ton  of  it.  It  looks  so  good,  I  almost 
think  I  might  eat  with  "Nebuchadnezzar."  Robert  is  hired 
till  my  work  is  completed,  more  or  less,  when  Mrs.  Ayres 
does  not  want  him  at  her  work.  At  Worcester,  to  buy  win- 
dows, doors  and  shingles,  for  building  my  L,  at  Forbusk  & 
Co.,  trade  made  cash  on  delivery,  the  time  September,  to  be 
completed.  I  have  my  $50  bank  book,  money  invested  when 
working  for  Barnard,  and  Sumner  &  Co.,  in  18G1  or  '62. 
I  go  to  bank  for  said  investment  (Mrs.  Wm.  H.  Beecher 
having  said  book  in  her  custody  till  within  a  few  weeks  of 
her  death  in  1870),  Mrs.  Beecher  causing  it  to  be  thus  kept 
so  that  I  might  have  an  income  accumulating.  The  clerk 
takes  the  book,  saying,  "  We  have  paid  you  your  interest." 
Very  true  ;  upon  another  investment.  Impudently — "  How 
came  you  by  two  books  ?"  "  By  asking  an  eminent  lawyer 
you  know  well,  and  his  investing  where  he  thought  best,  I 
directing  him  thus  to  do.  I  did  not  know  what  bank  till  said 
lawyer  gave  me  the  book."  "  We  never  give  out  two  books." 
"  Sir,  I  have  two,"  &c.  My  bank  book  is  still  there,  but  a 
young  lawyer  was  called  to  protect  the  same  from  the  bank 
thieves,  and  a  law  suit  is  to  come  of  that,  and,  reader,  I  will 
state  publicly  how  it  ends,  by  the  press.  I  then  go  on  to 
G.  H.  Clark's  store  and  get  a  witness,  and  give  the  other 
book  in  presence  of  the  witness  for  $450.  I  was  not  quite 
ready  to  have  that  taken  too.  My  aged  counsel  tells  me  I 
must  be  ready  for  court  in  September.    I  demur. 


88 

He  asked  me  if  I  bad  counsel  ready  to  meet  my  case, 
"  for  I  tell  you,  Mrs.  Hill,  I  do  nothing  in  court."  "  My 
case  cannot  be  tried,  as  my  most  important  witness  is  not  in 
the  United  States,  and  cannot  be.  Squire  :  "  I  tell  you, 
Mrs.  Hill,  you  mud  be  ready.  The  town  will  not  let  it  be 
put  over.  I  think,  sir,  I  know  too  well  about  court.  At 
the  time ? of  Duncan's  Court  I  plead  with  tears,  being  the 
plaintiff,  to  have  the  hearing  in  September  and  December, 
amr  was  obliged  to  wait  till  last  of  March  ;  Judge  Aldrich 
calming  me  by  saying  I  must  wait  till  December.  Squire  : 
"  The  town  is  ready,  and  want  it  settled — and  I,  the  injured 
party,  won't  pay  for  that  town's  depredations  and  robbery. 
Not  much  of  a  look,  when  counsel  pleads  for  town  instead  of 
party  employing  him.  The  town  will  be  informed  who  my 
counsel  is  the  day  of  the  sitting  of  said  court.  They  will 
then  have  ample  time  to  make  tenders.  In  full  bubble 
I  pass  into  the  street,  starting  for  Court  House  ;  when  about 
half  way  there  I  met  the  legal  adviser  of  the  town.  "  You 
will  please,  sir,  not  think,  or  make  effort  to  have  my  railroad 
suit  (entered  December  last)  have  a  hearing  this  coming 
court.  I  am  not  ready,  and  cannot  be  for  good  reason  ;  and 
sir,  I  trust' you  as  a  gentleman,  that  no  attempt  will  be 
made  by  the  town,  who  have  my  property  stolen  in  posses- 
sion, thus  making  costs.  "Mrs.  Hill,  you  will  have  no 
trouble,"  &c.  "  Thanks."  I  then  went  to  the  other  coun- 
sel ;  he  being  absent,  I  left  word  my  case  could  not  be 
heard,  and  should  said  V.  make  an  effort  for  his  thief  clients 
it  will  be  as  though  he  was  talking  to  the  "  old  man  in  the 
mountain."  He  (V.)  will  remember  my  effort  to  have  Dun- 
can's trial  hastened.  "You  anything  more  to  offer?"  "No, 
sir — good  day."  I  then  told  my  brother's  counsel  I  had 
in  possession  papers  beneficial  to  his  case,  and  I  wish  it 
could  have  been  otherwise.  My  case  first,  as  I  have  the 
papers  and  much  better  prepared  for  this  issue.  Brother's 
counsel  :  "  I  shan't  try  it."  "Has  any  one  asked  you  to  ?" 
I  have  not  had,  neither  wished  for  any  legal  advice  on  my 
railroad  case  since  the  appointment  of  railroad  bonds. 
I  have  lull  knowledge  of  the  statute's  requirements.  I  then 
said,  "  I  wish  you,  gentlemen,  to  bring  my  brother's  case  to  a 


89 

successful  issue."  Counsel  for  brother  :  "  Tyler  must  come 
down  so  and  so."  I  "  can't  see  what  you  wish  him  to  come 
down  for,  &c.  He  cannot  add  a  word,  nor  wish  to  take 
from,  as  he  well  knows  I  have  every  point  at  issue,  is  well 
prepared,  which  will  bo  irrevocable,  conclusive  evidence  in 
the  power  of  faithful  counsel  to  bring  judgment  in  his 
favor,  &c."  Notwithstanding  all  that !  !  !  my  brother 
was  summoned  next  day  to  come  at  once  to  prepare  for 
court.  Reader,  I  trust  you  have  checked.  My  brother  ivent 
down,  and  down  it  toas.  And  the  appalling  expense  of  court 
and  demand  for  so  much  money,  &c.  The  next  morning,  at  an 
early  hour  my  brother  was  waited  on  by  deputized  agent  for 
first  time  since  the  commissioners'  award,  and  the  settlement 
was  effected  in  part,  and  concluded  finally  next  day,  to  my 
astonishment.  But  I  availed  myself  of  being  down  to  court 
Monday.  Judge  Aldrich  presiding,  saw  and  heard  the  jury 
sworn.  My  brother's  counsel  coming  to  me  and  asking  for 
said  brother,  I  said  "  He  has  complied  with  your  directions." 
"Why  did  not  he  send  me  word?"  &c.  "You  could  not 
expect  me  to  come  to  your  office  after  heralding  ;  you  told 
me  you  would  enter  my  case,  and  that's  all,  &c.  You  have 
not  entered  my  case,  nor  put  it  over.  I  effected  my  case — 
not  being  on  this  term  court — with  the  town's  counsel,  my 
only  expense  for  the  term,  is  its  fee,  I  trust ;  I  can  ill  affurd 
this  bleeding. 

This  is  3d  September,  1877. 

Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts,  ) 

Worcester,  f  ss- : 

At  *  meeting  of  the  County  Commissioners  begun  and 
holden  at  Worcester,  within  and  for  the  County  of  Worces- 
ter, on  the  second  Tuesday  of  September,  A.  D.  1875,  and 
by  adjournment  on  the  first  day  of  December,  A.  D.  1875. 

To  the  Honorable,  the  County  Commissioners,  within  and 

for  the  County  of  Worcester  : 

Respectfully    represents    your    petitioner   Elizabeth  R. 

Hill,  of  North  Brooktield,  in  said  county,  that  she  has  been 

for  a  long  time  and  now  is,  the  owner  of  two  certain  tracts 


90 

of  land  situated  in  said  North  Brookfield.  First  tract  of 
about  six  acres  bounded  south  by  a  highway  running  by  the 
Walnut  Grove  Cemetery,  east  by  said  cemetery,  north  by 
road  leading  from  North  Brookfield  to  East  Brookfield. 
west  by  road  leading  from  Moses  Tyler's  to  Spunky  Hol- 
low, so  called. 

Second  tract  bounded  on  the  east  by  said  last  named 
road,  south  by  land  of  Mrs.  A.  B.  Stoddard,  west  by  said 
Stoddard's  land,  north  by  road  from  North  to  East  Brook- 
field, and  containing  a'oout  two  acres ;  said  tracts  are  only 
separated  by  said  Spunky  Hollow  Road. 

That  the  North  Brookfield  Railroad  Company,  a  railroad 
corporation  duly  organized,  have  laid  out  and  located  their 
railroad  while  your  petitioner  was  the  owner  of  said  tracts, 
through  both  of  said  tracts,  running  easterly  and  westerly 
through  the  same,  taking  a  strip  five  rods  wide  through  each 
of  said  tracts,  and  have  taken  about  .804  acres  from  the 
first  above  described  lot  and  about  .350  acres  from  the 
second  described  tract,  as  per  plan  furnished  your  petitioner 
by  said  railroad  company,  thereby  causing  great  damage  to 
your  petitioner,  separating  said  tracts  into  four  tracts,  and 
leaving  what  they  do  not  take  in  bad  and  inconvenient 
shape  and  otherwise  greatly  injuring  those  portions  of  said 
tracts  not  taken,  and  have  taken  and  converted  to  their  own 
use  large  quantities  of  stone  wall  standing  on  said  tract ; 
and  your  petitioner  was  obliged  to  cut  a  large  number  of 
valuable  trees  standiug  and  growing  upon  said  tracts  ;  and 
have  discontinued  said  Spunky  Hollow  road  by  filling  up 
the  same  and  obstructing  the  travel  thereon ;  and  your  pe- 
titioner is  unable  to  agree  with  said  company  as  to  her 
damages. 

Wherefore  your  petitioner  prays  that  your  Honorable 
Board,  after  due  notice  to  all  persons  interested,  will  view 
the  premises  and  assess  your  petitioner  said  damages  in 
the  premises,  and  order  all  such  culverts,  cattle  guards, 
crossings  and  structures  as  are  necessary  and  proper,  to  be 
made  by  said  railroad  company,  and  also  pray  the  said  rail- 
road company  may  be  required  by  your  Honorable  Board 
to  give  satisfactory  security  to  your  petitioner  for  any  dam- 


91 

ages  and  costs  that  may  be  assessed  by  your  Board  or  a 
jury. 

North  Brookfield,  Mass.,  Sept.  3d,  1875. 

Elizabeth  R.  Hill. 

Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts,  ) 
Worcester,  j 

At  a  meeting  of  the  County  commissioners  begun  and 
holden  at  Worcester,  within  and  for  the  County  of  Worces- 
ter, on  the  third  Tuesday  of  June,  A.  D.  1875,  and  by 
adjournment  on  the  third  day  of  September,  A.  D.  1875. 

On  the  petition  aforesaid  it  is  ordered,  that  the  petitioner 
notify  the  said  North  Brookfield  Railroad  Company,  that 
said  County  Commissioners  will  meet  at  the  Town  Hall  in 
said  North  Brookfield,  in  said  County,  on  Friday  the  fif- 
teenth day  of  October,  at  ten  of  the  clock  iri  the  forenoon, 
by  serving  said  railroad  company  with  an  attested  copy  of 
said  petition  and  this  order  fourteen  days  at  least  before 
the  time  of  said  meeting,  that  they  may  then  and  there  ap- 
pear and  show  cause  why  the  prayer  of  said  petition  should 
not  be  granted. 

BOND. 

Know  all  Men  by  these  Presents,  That  the  North  Brook- 
field Railroad  Company,  by  Bonum  Nye,  President  of  said 
Railroad  Company,  duly  authorized  by  a  vote  of  the  Board 
of  Directors  passed  Dec.  31,  1875,  as  principal,  and  Alden 
Batcheller,  William  H.  Montague,  John  B.  Dewing,  of  said 
North  Brookfield,  as  sureties,  are  holden  and  stand  firmly 
bound  and  obliged  unto  Elizabeth  R.  Hill,  of  said  North 
Brookfield,  in  the  full  and  just  sum  of  three  thousand  dol- 
lars, to  be  paid  unto  the  said  Elizabeth  R.  Hill,  her  execu- 
tors, administrators  or  assigns ;  to  the  which  payment,  well 
and  truly  to  be  made,  we  bind  ourselves  and  our  heirs,  exec- 
utors and  administrators,  firmly  by  these  presents. 

Witness  our  hands  and  seals,  dated  the  thirty-first  day  of 
December,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  eight  hun- 
dred and  seventy-five. 

The  condition  of  this  obligation  is  such,  That  whereas  the 
said  North  Brookfield  Railroad  Company  have  located  their 


92 

railroad  in  said  North  Brookfield  on  land  of  said  Elizabeth 
R.  Hill,  and  taken  the  same  for  tho  construction  of  the  said 
railroad,  and  thereby  causing  damage  to  her ;  now,  there- 
fore, if  the  said  railroad  company  shall  well  and  truly  pay 
the  said  Elizabeth  R.  Hill  the  amount  of  damages  and  costs 
she  may  be  legally  entitled  to,  as  may  be  assessed  by  the 
county  commissioners  or  a  jury,  then  this  bond  is  null  and 
void,  otherwise  to  remain  in  full  force  and  virtue. 

North  Brookfield  Railroad  Company  by 

Bonum  Nye,  Pres.       [l.  s-1 

By  vote  of  Board  of  Directors, 

In  presence  of  Alden  Batcheller,    [l.  s.] 

Charles  Duncan,  W.  H.  Montague,      [l.  s.] 

E.  D.  Batcheller.  John  B.  Dewing.        [l.  s.] 

[No.  346.] 
Worcester,  ss. 

Clerk's  Office  of  the  County  Commissioners. 

Costs  taxed  by  order  of  said  Commissioners  on  the  petition 
of  Elizabeth  It.  Hill,  for  assessment  of  damages,  vs. 
North  Brookfield  R.  K  Co. : 

Services  of  Commissioners $15  00 

Report  for  Record 

Examining  Road  for  Acceptance  

Printer's  Bill 

Officer's  Fees 

Clerk's  Fees — 

Entry,  &c $1  25 

Order  of  Notice 1  60 

Clerk's  term  fees  for  two  terms,  at  40 

cents  a  term 80 

Record 1  00 

Copy  of  Report 1  60 

*J  6  25 

$21  25 

Worcester, ,  18 

Received  of ,  the  sum  of dollars  and 

cents,  in  full  for  tho  above  costs. 


r 


)3 


Warrant  for  Town  Meeting. 

Worcester,  ss. : 

To  Sylyander  Bothwell,  Constable  of  the  Town 

of  North  Brookfield,  in  said  County, 
Greeting  : 

In  the  name  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts,  you 
are  directed  to  notify  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  North 
Brookfield,  qualified  to  vote  in  elections,  and  town  officers, 
to  meet  at  the  Town  Hall,  in  said  North  Brookfield,  on 
Friday,  the  29th  day  of  January,  inst.,  at  ten  of  the  clock 
a.  m.,  there  and  then  to  act  on  the  following  articles  : 

1st.  To  choose  a  Moderator,  to  preside  in  said  meeting. 

2d.  To  see  if  the  town  will  vote  to  subscribe  for  and 
hold  shares  in  the  capital  stock  of  the  North  Brookfield 
Railroad  Company,  a  railroad  corporation,  to  be  formed 
under  chapter  53  of  the  Acts  of  the  year  1872,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  building  a  railroad  from  North  Brookfield  to  East 
Brookfield. 

3d.  To  see  if  the  town  will  vote  to  become  an  associate  for 
the  foundation  of  the  North  Brookfield  Railroad  Company,  a 
railroad  corporation  to  be  formed  under  chapter  53  of  the 
Acts  of  the  year  1872,  for  the  purpose  of  building  a  railroad 
from  North  Brookfield  to  East  Brookfield. 

4th.  To  see  what  action  the  town  will  take  in  regard  to 
raising  money  to  aid  in  building  a  railroad  from  North 
Brookfield  to  East  Brookfield,  and  act  tbereon. 

And  yon  are  directed  to  serve  this  warrant,  by  posting  up 
attested  copies  thereof ;  one  at  the  Town  House,  and  one  at 
the  Post  Office,  in  said  town,  seven  days  at  least,  before  the 
time  of  holding  said  meeting. 

Thereof  fail  not  to  make  due  return  of  this  warrant,  with 
your  doings  thereon,  to  the  Town  Clei'k,  at  the  time  and 
place  of  meeting  aforesaid. 

Given  under  our  hands  this  22d  day  of  January,  in  the 
year  1875. 

Warren  Tyler,      ]         Selectmen 
Geo.  0.  Lincoln,   v  of 

John  B.  Dewing,  j  North  Brookfield. 
(A  true  copy.) 

Attest — Sylyander  Bothwell, 
Constable  of  North  Brookfield. 


91 

LEASE  OF  THE  NORTH  BROOKFIELD  RAILROAD 

TO    THE 

BOSTON    &    ALBANY    RAILROAD    COMPANY. 

This  Indenture, 
Made  this  first  day  of  January,  A.  D.  1876,  by  and  between 
the  North  Brookfield  Railroad  Company,  a  corporation 
created  by  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts,  party  of 
the  first  part ;  and  the  Boston  &  Albany  Railroad  Company, 
a  corporation  created  by  said  Commonwealth,  with  whose 
road  the  road  of  said  party  of  the  first  part  connects  in  the 
Town  of  Brookfield,  in  said  commonwealth,  party  of  the 
second  part, 

Witnesseth,  That  the  said  party  of  the  first  part  doth 
hereby  grant,  lease,  demise  and  let  unto  the  said  party  of 
the  second  part,  its  successors  and  assigns,  the  North  Brook- 
field Railroad,  that  is  to  say,  the  whole  of  the  railroad  of 
said  party  of  the  first  part,  extending  from  the  depot  build- 
ing on  the  line  of  the  Boston  &  Albar^  Railroad  at  East 
Brookfield  Village,  in  the  Town  of  Brookfield,  Massachusetts, 
to  and  into  the  town  of  North  Brookfield,  Massachusetts,  as 
far  as  the  village,  and  to  the  line  of  the  shoe  factory  of 
Messrs.  E.  &  A  H.  Batcheller  &  Company,  with  all  the  real 
estate,  rights,  powers,  easements,  tenements,  franchises, 
privileges  and  appurtenances  and  equipment  appurtenant  to 
said  railroad,  or  belonging  to  said  North  Brookfield  Rail- 
road Company,  and  all  the  branch  tracks,  turnouts,  depot 
grounds,  stations,  both  freight  and  passenger  buildings,  car 
houses,  engine  houses,  water  tanks  and  water  rights,  turn- 
tables, superstructure  and  fixtures  connected,  or  used  with, 
or  belonging  to  said  railroad,  or  to  said  North  Brookfield 
Railroad  Company,  and  all  lands  upon  which  the  same  are 
now  situated,  or  which  belong  to  or  have  been  taken  by  said 
company,  whether  included  in  its  location  or  not,  and  wher- 
ever situated  ;  and  all  personal  property  connected  or  de- 
signed for  use,  with  all  or  any  part  of  the  premises  hereby 
demised  ;  except  the  hall  in  the  second  story  of  the  brick 
depot  over  the  passenger  rooms,  which  hall  said  party  of 
the  first  part  shall  have  the  right  to  rent  or  use,  but  for  such 


95 

purposes  only  as  shall  not  be  injurious  to  the  interests  of 
said  party  of  the  second  part. 

To  have  and  to  hold  the  said  railroad  and  other  premises 
hereby  demised  unto  the  said  Boston  &  Albany  Railroad 
Company,  its  successors  and  assigns,  for  and  during  the  full 
term  of  ten  }ears  from  the  first  day  of  January,  A.  T>.  1876. 
And  said  party  of  the  first  part  agree  that  said  Boston  & 
Albany  Railroad  Company  shall  have  the  sole  and  exclusive 
right,  during  said  term,  to  hold,  use  and  enjoy,  run  and 
operate  the  premises  hereby  demised  ;  to  fix,  establish,  col- 
lect, receive  and  retain  for  its  own  use  and  benefit  all  tolls, 
fares,  rents,  or  compensation  for  the  use  thereof  or  for  any 
transportation,  or  for  anything  done  therewith  or  thereon, 
except  as  hereby  otherwise  provided,  and  at  its  expense  and 
pleasure  to  use  or  authorize  any  one  to  use  the  name  of  said 
party  of  the  first  part,  whenever  necessary  or  convenient  to 
enforce,  secure,  retain  or  enjoy  any  right  or  thing  hereby 
granted,  demised,  promised  or  given,  and  any  such  authority 
to  revoke. 

Said  party  of  the  first  part  agrees,  at  its  own  expense, 
during  said  term  to  execute  all  instruments  and  to  do  all 
things  required  by  law  or  reasonably  requested  by  the  said 
party  of  the  second  part ;  to  preserve  and  maintain  the  cor- 
porate rights  and  existence  of  said  party  of  the  first  part 
and  its  legal  organization  from  year  to  year  and  at  all  times, 
or  which  may  be  necessary  or  reasonably  requested  by  said 
party  of  the  second  part  to  confirm,  secure,  protect,  and  as- 
sure to  said  party  of  the  second  part  all  and  whatever  is 
hereby  granted,  demised,  promised  or  given  to  said  party  of 
the  second  part ;  and  to  do  all  things  which  said  party  of 
the  first  part  is  required  by  law  to  do,  except  those  which 
said  party  of  the  second  part  hereby  agrees  or  is  hereby 
permitted  to  do. 

And  the  said  party  of  the  first  part  agrees  to  assume  and 
pay  all  taxes,  whether  National,  State  County,  Town,  or 
other  taxes  that  shall  in  any  way  be  directly  or  indirectly 
either  legally  assessed  upon  or  to  said  party  of  the  first 
part,  or  upon  or  to  its  property,  road,  franchises,  business, 
receipts  or  income,  whether  assessed  to  or  against  the  said 


96 

party  of  the  first  part  or  said  party  of  the  second  part,  or 
shall  be  assessed  upon  the  capital  stock  of  said  party  of  the 
first  part  to  either  of  the  parties  hereto. 

The  said  party  of  the  second  part,  in  consideration  of  the 
above  premises,  covenants  and  agrees  with  the  said  party  of 
the  first  part,  that  it,  the  said  party  of  the  second  part  will, 
with  its  own  servants  and  rolling  stock,  and  at  its  own  ex- 
pense, run  and  operate  said  North  Brookfield  Railroad 
hereby  demised,  excepting  always  that  portion  of  said  rail- 
road which  extends  from  the  depot  of  said  party  of  the  first 
part,  in  the  Town  of  North  Brookfield,  to  the  stop  of  Messrs. 
E.  &  A.  H.  Batcheller  &  Company,  during  the  term  of  this 
lease,  in  such  a  manner  as  shall  be  reasonable  and  proper 
for  a  railroad  of  its  class  and  description  and  for  the  bus- 
iness upon  its  route,  running  such  trains  as  may  be  found 
necessary  lor  the  reasonable  accommodation  of  the  public. 
But  said  party  of  the  first  part  agrees  that  said  party  of 
the  second  part  may  either  permit  any  one  or  more  per- 
sons or  corporations  at  any  time  or  times,  or  from  time  to 
time,  both  to  do  or  cause  to  be  done,  all  transportation  which 
shall  be  done,  or  which  any  one  shall  be  entitled  to  have 
done  upon  or  over  said  above  excepted  portion  of  said  rail- 
road, and  to  use  and  occupy  said  portion,  and  also  all  such 
part  or  parts  of  any  property  or  premises  hereby  demised  as 
lie  or  lies  west  of  said  depot  in  North  Brookfield,  or  may 
itself  use,  occupy  and  operate  said  portion,  part  or  parts  in 
any  way. 

Said  party  of  the  second  part  hereby  covenants  and  agrees 
during  said  term  of  ten  years,  at  its  own  expense,  to  keep  all 
the  property  and  premises  hereby  demised,  excepting  the 
said  above  excepted  portion  of  said  railroad,  and  such  por- 
tion, part  or  parts  of  said  property  and  premises  as  said 
party  of  the  first  part  hereby  agrees  that  said  party  of  the 
second  part  may  permit  any  other  persons  or  corporations 
to  use  and  occupy,  in  as  good  condition,  and  to  keep  said 
excepted  portion,  part  or  parts,  in  as  safe  condition,  reason- 
able wear  and  tear  in  each  case  excepted,  as  the  same  re- 
spectively were  in,  when  received  by  and  delivered  to  said 
party  of  the  second  part,  and  also  to  pay  any  and  all  dam- 


97 

ages  for  which  said  party  of  the  first  part  shall  in  any  way 
become  liable  for  loss  of,  or  injury  to  life,  limb,  persons  or 
property,  incurred  by  or  in  either  the  runuing  or  use  of  said 
railroad,  or  of  any  part  of  the  premises  hereby  demised  by 
any  person  or  corporation,  or  by  or  through  any  act,  neglect 
or  omissions  of  said  property  of  the  second  part. 

The  party  of  the  second  part  hereby  covenants  and  agrees 
to  keep  at  all  times  during  said  term  full,  just  and  true  ac- 
counts of  all  the  gross  receipts  by  it  derived  from  the  run- 
ning of  said  North  Brookfield  Railroad,  or  the  use  of  any 
property  hereby  demised,  and  to  make  a  full  report  to  said 
part}*  of  the  first  part  of  said  gross  receipts  seini-annually, 
that  is  to  say,  on  the  first  day  of  August  in  each  year  during 
said  term,  for  the  sis  months  ending  with  the  then  next  pre- 
ceding month  of  June,  and  on  the  first  day  of  February,  in 
each  year  during  said  term  for  the  six  months  ending  with 
the  then  next  preceding  month  of  December,  and  to  pay  to 
said  party  of  the  first  part  as  rent,  and  in  full  compensation 
for  the  use  of  the  premises  hereby  demised  anuually  on  the 
first  day  of  February  in  each  year,  during  said  term,  twenty- 
five  per  cent.,  of  what  shall  remain  of  the  entire  gross  receipts 
aforesaid,  for  the  year  ending  with  the  month  of  December, 
then  next  preceding,  after  deducting  from  said  gross  receipts, 
before  any  appropriation  or  payment  of  any  part  thereof, 
for  any  other  purpose,  the  sum  of  two  thousand  dollars 
($2,000),  which  sum  shall  be  retained  by  said  party  of  tlie 
second  part,  for  its  own  use  and  benefit  as  compensation  for 
the  use  by  it  on  said  North  Brookfield  Railroad  of  the  roll- 
ing stock  of  said  party  of  the  second  part,  for  that  year. 

And  it  is  further  stipulated  and  agreed  by  and  between 
the  parties  hereto,  that  the  price  of  one  first  class  passenger's 
fare  from  North  Brookfield  village  to  East  Brookfield,  or 
from  East  Brookfield  to  North  Brookfield  village  shall  not 
exceed  fifteen  cents  per  trip,  and  the  rate  of  freight  trans- 
portation between  said  points  shall  not  exceed  seventy  cents 
per  ton,  and  for  coal  in  carloads  shall  not  exceed  fifty  cents 
per  gross  ton. 

Aud  it  is  further  agreed  that  said  party  of  the  second  part 
shall  have  the  right  to  make  special  freight  contracts  or  rates 


98 

for  transportation  with  heavy  shippers  at  as. much  less  rates 
as  they  choose,  but  in  which  event  the  pro  rata  portion  ot 
actual  receipts  shall  be  credited  and  allowed  as  receipts  from 
the  North  Brookfield  Railroad  at  the  same  rate  per  mile  on 
freight  and  passengers  transported  over  any  part  ot  it,  and 
of  the  Boston  &  Albany  Railroad,  as  said  party  of  the  second 
part  receives  on  the  same. 

And  it  is  further  agreed  by  and  between  the  parties  hereto 
that  the  said  party  of  the  second  part  shall  have  the  right  to 
make,  lay  .and  construct  any  tracks,  buildings,  additions  or 
alterations  and  permanent  improvements  which  its  directors 
shall  think  fit  to  make  to  or  on  said  North  Brookfield  Rail- 
road, its  construction,  road,  tracks,  superstructure,  depots 
and  appurtenances,  or  in  or  on  any  part  or  parts  of  the  prop- 
erty or  premises  hereby  demised  during  said  term  of  ten 
years,  all  such  tracks,  buildings,  additions,  alterations  and 
improvements,  if  any  to  be  made  at  the  expense  of  said  party 
of  the  second  part,  and  at  no  cost  whatever  to  said  party  of 
the  first  part,  unless  it,  the  said  party  of  the  first  part  shall 
have  been  consulted  in  relation  to  the  same,  prior  to  their 
being  done,  and  shall  have  agreed  in  writing  or  by  a  formal 
vote  of  its  directors  to  assume  or  share  the  expense  thereof. 

And  it  is  further  stipulated  and  agreed  that  the  party  of 
the  first  part  may  at  any  time  build  or  cause  to  be  built,  at 
its  own  risk  and  expense,  such  building  or  buildings  upon 
its  grounds  as  it  may  deem  necessary  for  its  business  inte- 
rests, if  the  party  of  the  second  part  shall  have  been  first 
consulted  in  regardjto  their  location  and  building  and  have 
consented  thereto  in  writing  or  by  a  formal  vote  of  the 
directors. 

And  it  is  further  agreed  and  understood  that  the  entire 
rolling  stock  and  equipment  andjill  other  personal  property 
furnished  by  the  party  of  the  second  part  for  the  operation 
or  use  of  all  or  any  part  of  said  North  Brookfield  Railroad 
or  any  purpose,  and  any  real  property  so  furnished,  except 
such  buildings  and  tracks  as  shall  be  affixed  to  the  real 
estate  of  said  North  Brookfield  Railroad  Company,  shall 
remain  at  all  times  the  property  of  the  said  party  of  the 
second  part,  and  may  be  removed  or  held  by  it  at  any  time 
and  for  its  own  use  and  benefit. 


99 

And  it  is  further  stipulated  arid  agreed  that  in  case  any 
difference  shall  arise  as  to  the  construction  or  effect  of  any 
stipulation  herein  contained  or  as  to  any  claim  arising 
under  the  same,  the  same  shall  be  submitted  to  the  arbi- 
tration of  three  persons,  who  shall  be  mutually  agreed  upon 
by  the  parties  hereto,  and  the  award  of  all  or  a  majority  of 
said  three  persons  shall  be  final  in  the  premises. 

And  it  is  further  understood  and  agreed  by  each  party 
hereto,  that  all  promises  and  agreements  hereby  made  by 
such  party  are  made,  and  shall  be  considered  to  be  made 
with  the  other  party  hereto  and  shall  extend  to,  and  enure 
for  the  benefit  of  the  successors  or  assigns  of  the  party  with 
or  to  whom  or  for  whose  benefit  such  agreement  or  promises 
are  made. 

In  witness  whereof  the  said  North  Brookfield  Railroad 
Company,  by  Bonum  Nye,  its  president,  hereto  duly  author- 
ized, and  the  said  Boston  &  Albany  Railroad  Company,  by 
D.  Waldo  Lincoln,  its  vice  president,  hereto  duly  authorized, 
have  hereto  and  to  one  other  instrument  of  like  tenor  aud 
date  herewith,  signed  their  corporate  names,  and  set  their 
common  seals  the  day  and  year  first  above  written. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Directors  of  the  Boston  & 
Albany  Railroad  Company,  duly  held  in  the  City  of  Boston, 
on  the  13th  day  of  February,  1877,  an  indenture  of  Lease 
of  the  North  Brookfield  Railroad  Company,  as  above  writ- 
ten, was  submitted  and  considered,  and  it  was  thereupon. 

Voted,  "  That  the  directors  of  the  Boston  &  Albany  Rail- 
road Company  do  hereby  agree  to  and  approve  a  lease  by 
the  North  Brookfield  Railroad  Company  to  the  Boston  & 
Albany  Railroad  Company,  dated  the  first  day  of  January, 
A.  D.  1876,  for  ten  years  from  said  first  day  of  January, 
and  all  the  terms  as  set  forth  and  contained  therein,  and 
that  said  lease,  be  submitted  to  the  meeting  of  the  stock- 
holders of  said  Boston  &  Albany  Railroad  Company,  to  be 
held  in  Boston  on  the  14th  day  of  February,  current  for  the 
purpose  of  seeing  if  said  stockholders  will  approve  of  the 
same  and  of  said  terms. 

[Attest,]  J.  A.  Rumeill, 

Secretary  and  Clerk  of  the  Boston  &  Albany 

R.  R.  Co. 


100 

[Spencer    Sun,    August    3d,    1877.] 

The  Railroad  Case. 

Mr.  Editor, — The  proper  appraisal  of  land  taken  by  towns 
or  corporations  for  public  purposes,  is  a  subject  important 
to  all  concerned  ;  and  a  right  understanding  of  the  law  in  re- 
lation to  it  may  save  much  trouble  and  expensive  litigation. 
All  know  that  such  taking  is  authorized  by  law,  and  wisely 
so,  as  without  such  power  no  public  improvement  could  be 
made.  If  the  consent  of  all  parties  must  be  obtained,  no 
enterprise,  great  or  small,  could  be  accomplished.  The  law 
not  onl}7  provides  for  the  taking  of  the  land,  but  secures  to 
the  owner  the  proper  facilities  for  obtaining  a  fair  compen- 
sation .for  the  same,  and  any  damage  sustained  in  the 
premises. 

In  the  first  place,  by  agreement  of  the  parties.  If  that  is 
not  effected,  then  by  appraisal  of  the  county  commissioners  ; 
and  in  case  their  doings  should  not  satisf}%  then  a  sheriff's 
jury  called  upon  the  premises  again  to  consider  the  ques- 
tion ;  and  if  their  estimate  of  the  value  of  the  land  taken 
exceeds  the  amount  awarded  by  the  commissioners,  the  cost 
in  both  cases  falls  on  the  corporation  ;  or  the  party  may  ap- 
peal directly  from  the  commissioners  to  the  court. 

That  jurors  and  appraisers  sometimes  adopt  a  wrong 
standard  of  value  in  such  cases,  is  evidenced  by  the  deomion 
of  the  case  of  the  heirs  of  Dexter  Stoddard  vs.  The  North 
Brookfield  Eailroad  Co. 

The  question  in  such  cases  is,  not  what  the  land  taken  is 
worth  to  the  railroad  corporation,  neither  is  the  fictitious 
price  that  the  owner  is  pleased  to  place  on  the  property  to 
be  considered.  Either  of  these  considerations  might  as 
effectually  block  the  wheels  of  any  enterprise  as  if  no  rights 
Lad  been  secured  in  that  connection. 

The  decision  must  be  based  on  the  cash  value  of  the  land, 
if  sold  for  any  other  purpose  ;  and  if  adjoining  lands  are 
damaged  in  consequence,  what  compensation  should  be 
made  for  such  inj  ury. 

It  is  not  a  consideration  to  be  urged  in  such  cases  that 
the  land  is  taken  without  the  consent  of  the  owner  ;  that  he 


101 

does  not  wish  to  part  with  it ;  that  he  is  able  to  keep  it ; 
that  it  has  an  especial  value  on  account  of  its  having  been 
inherited  from  ancestors  more  or  less  remote — but  simply 
the  market  value  of  the  land.  That  is  what  the  law  in  the 
case  proposes  to  secure  to  the  aggrieved  party  ;  not  his 
fanciful  estimate  of  value  from  any  other  consideration. 
To  illustrate.  You  are  responsible  for  killing  my  horse.  I 
set  up  the  claim  the  horse  was  a  great  favorite  ;  that  I  had 
owned  him  long  and  did  not  want  to  part  with  him  ;  that  he 
was  safe  for  all  my  family  to  use — and  I  claim  $150  damage. 

The  fact  of  the  case  is  that  the  horse  was  not  (for  sale) 
worth  one  third  of  the  amount.  What  should  I  name  as 
a  compensation,  the  net  market  value  of  the  animal,  or  my 
constructive  estimate  ?  Such  an  appraisal  might  injure  my 
feelings,  and  perhaps  be  a  net  loss  ;  but  what  other  standard 
of  value  could  judicious  men  adopt  in  the  case  ?  This  was 
the  mistake  made  by  the  party  to  this  suit,  and  we  think  by 
some  of  the  jurors  that  sat  on  the  case.  Two  sets  of  men, 
neither  of  whom  had  any  personal  interest  to  affect  their 
judgment,  had  considered  and  decided  the  amount  of 
damage,  and  it  would  seem  that  the  claimant  ought  to  have 
relied  somewhat  on  their  judgment.  In  addition  to  this, 
the  railroad  directors  were  extremely  anxious  to  settle  all 
these  claims  without  litigation,  and  to  accomplish  this  they 
made  offers  exceeding  their  own  and  the  commissioners' 
valuation.  But  all  to  no  effect.  A  sheriff's  jury  came  on  ; 
five  days  were  spent  on  the  trial ;  and,  but  for  the  ex- 
travagant appraisal  of  some  of  the  jurors,  made  under  oath, 
the  amount  of  the  award  would  not  exceed  that  of  the 
county  commissioners,  and  was,  in  fact,  fifty  dollars  less  than 
the  directors  had  offered,  for  the  sake  of  a  settlement.  The 
other  party,  whose  case  would  have  come  before  the  same 
jury,  very  wisely  concluded  to  settle  as  proposed  by  the 
directors.  t 

Thinking  that  the  history  of  this  case  might  benefit  the 
public,  I  offer  it  for  publication  in  your  paper. 

North  Brookfield,  July  30.  W. 


102 

[Spencer  Sun,  August  17,  1877.] 

Keply  to   "  W.'s  "  Letter  op  Aug.  3d. 

The  appraisal  of  land  taken  by  towns  or  corporations  for 
public  purposes  authorized  by  law,  etc.  Said  right  needs 
no  argument.  But  land  taken  for  such  purposes  should  be 
appraised  by  disinterested  men,  as  the  law  directs,  previous 
to  taking,  except  for  making  surveys,  is  of  great  moment, 
as  the  "  cases  "  referred  to  have  proven.  Then  the  parties 
aggrieved  would  seldom  have  recourse  to  courts.  Some  of 
the  men  appointed  to  assess  damage  on  land  taken  by  the 
North  Brookfield  Railroad  Company,  were  objected  to  in 
writing  before  their  appraisal  of  said  land,  as  disqualified, 
etc.,  and  a  request  for  legal  arbiters  from  the  Board  of 
Directors  was  refused !  The  North  Brookfield  Railroad 
land  damage  rendered  (as  the  report  has  it)  $15,390.47-100, 
of  which  three  out  of  the  five  appraisers  took  to  themselves 
of  that  sum  $7,515  for  their  damage.  (Richly,  appraisers, 
gentlemen,  swallow  that,  will  you,  and  call  it  disinterested.) 
The  changeable  judgment  of  the  above  referees  upon  some 
of  the  land  damage  claimants,  was  as  follows  :  Lewis  Whit- 
ing case,  first  assessment,  $5(30,  next,  $750,  next,  $800,  next, 
$900,  final  commissioners,  $1,150 —thus  you  see  judgment 
vvaried  $590  worth.  Daniel  "Whiting  case,  first  assessment, 
$1,050,  next,  $1,100,  next,  $1,200,  next,  $1,300,  next,  $1,400 
— final  commissioners,  $1,456.  Wm.  P.  Haskell,  bakery,  for 
loss  of  business,  he  received  $1,00!).  "  Said  business,  he  was 
sick  of,  and  had  been  trying  to  sell  out  for  more  than  six 
months  previous  !  "  W.  Dean,  butcher,  $350  ;  F.  Stoddard, 
grocer,  $400.  The  argument  of  these  appraisers  was,  "  they 
can  hold  a  lawsuit  and  we  must  pay  them  well.'.'  A.  and  E. 
Batcheller,  building  a  stand,  etc.,  occupied  by  three  men  just 
mentioned.  Mr.  A.  Batcheller  had  said  in  one  of  the  rally- 
ing, railroad  meetings,  "  if  the  company  would  give  him 
$4,000  for  his  place  he  should  take  it,  or  even  $3,000."  But 
tlie  appraisers  marched  up  boldly  and  gave  them  $6,000,  and 
the  occupants  $1,750  !  Joseph  Kimball,  $133,  for  one  acre 
957-1000,  out  of  a  farm  valued  at  $800,  for  80  acres,  cutting 
through  the  most  worthless  part  of  it,  a  mud  swamp,  drain- 


103 

ing  and  filling,  etc.  If  a  suitable  fence  and  cattle  guards 
were  made,  as  the  statutes  require,  an  improvement  to  his 
farm.  Freeman  Walker's  case,  $75  for  one  acre,  240-1010, 
out  of  a  pasture  of  nine  acres  valued  $100,  and  said  sum  ho 
paid  for  said  pasture  a  few  years  previous.  The  land  taken 
fit  onl}-  (one  would  think)  as  a  resting  place  for  owls  and 
woodchucks.  Advisory  "  W's  "  figures  on  J.  Kimball's  land 
was  $300,  said  land  joins  said  "  W."  One  of  the  arbiters  in 
making  report  for  North  Brookfield  Railroad,  caused  to  be 
printed  in  most  of  the  papers  of  the  State,  "  That  the  town 
would  be  against  any  award  being  granted  to  land  damage 
claimants  above  the  figures  of  the  appraisers."  It  is  but 
justice  to  the  parties  concerned  that  the  above  accurate 
facts  should  have  equal  publicity,  and  show  cause  why  some 
aggrieved  laud  claimant  desires  what  .the  statutes  will  give. 
Had  advisory  "  W  "  been  willing  that  equity  should  pre- 
vail, he  would  have  resigned  when  required  thus  to  do. 
Also  these  public  attempts  to  prejudice  and  buttonhole  who- 
ever may  chance  to  be  called  jurors,  would  not  have  been 
found  in  print.  Work  commenced  in  July,  1875,  on  the 
North  Brookfield  Railroad,  and  the  commissioners  did  not 
come  to  appraise  or  to  direct  road  crossing  till  Oct.  15th, 
1875,  and  April  28th,  1876.  Then  that  body  came  and  com- 
plied with  all  the  violation  of  the  statutes  by  the  North 
Brookfield  Railroad  Company.  The  cattle-guards  they  au- 
thorized to  be  built  in  place  of  the  "  sham  ones,"  is  not 
done  yet.  The  lane  they  granted  to  Lewis  Whiting  to  be 
made  by  said  corporation  was  annulled  by  the  directors. 
The  commissioners  gave  in  afterwards  !  The  Whiting  case 
was  settled  through  his  church  friends ;  and  to  their  great 
relief,  Bouum  Nye  had  interviewed  him  many  times,  offer- 
ing him  $100  out  of  his  own  pocket,  if  he  would  give  him 
three  years  to  pay  it  in  ;  four  others,  $50  each.  Mr.  Whit- 
ing settled ;  he  tells  me  these  sums  are  not  paid,  and  is 
unhappy  because  of  his  settlement. 

•The  North  Brookfield  Railroad  fence  and  cattle-guards 
are  a  frail  sham,  and  the  corporation  were  notified  by  a 
party  aggrieved,  in  writing,  within  a  year  after  the  taking  of 
the  land  for  railroad  purposes,  that  said  fence  and  guards 


104 

were  not  safe  protection  for  cattle,  therefore,  not  accepted, 
together  with  the  assessment,  etc.  Had  the  North  Brook- 
field  Railroad  been  built  upon  the  route  laid  out  by  J.  Gil- 
man,  it  would,  without  doubt,  be  a  connecting  link  to  the 
north  and  west  part  of  the  State. 

As  it  is  built,  it  must  ever  remain  the  North  Brookfield 
Branch  Road.  The  grade  is  such,  that  with  very  little  extra 
freight,  the  train  gets  stuck,  as  the  Worcester  attorneys 
can  testify.  At  other  times,  its  despairing  puffs  and  tugs 
are  such  as  to  affect  the  sensitive  ear,  and  draw  heartfelt 
sympathy  for  the  iron  horse. 

E.  R.  Hill. 


[Spencer  Sun,  August  24th,  1877.] 

Reply  to  "W.'s"  Letter  of  3d  inst. — (Continued.) 

As  there  remains  but  two  land  damage  claimants,  besides 
the  one  in  equity,  to  be  adjudicated,  a  few  preliminaries 
bearing,  perhaps,  on  "  W.'s  "  different  threads  of  argument 
may  not  be  out  of  place.  The  Tyler  farm,  valued  for  taxa- 
tion in  1850,  |  house,  2  barns,  79  acres,  $3,G00;  Jenks'  farm, 
house,  bam,  146  acres,  $3,000 ;  Daniel  Gilbert's  land,  house, 
barn,  28  acres,  $2,000  ;  Freeman  Walker,  house,  barn,  SSI- 
acres,  $3,200  ;  Amasa  Walker,  2  houses,  barn,  shed,  57  acres, 
$7,000  ;  Lewis  Whiting,  new  house,  barn,  22  acres,  $1,950  , 
John  H.  Deland,  house,  barn,  50£-  acres,  $800 ;  Bonum 
Nye,  house,  barn,  shop,  105  acres,  $,150  ;  F.  A.  Potter,  2 
houses,  barn,  shed,  107|  acres,  $3,500  ,  Chas.  T.  Kendrick, 
90|  acres,  $8,900 ;  David  W.  Lane,  house,  barn,  112 
acres,  $2,400.  In  18G8 :  D.  Gilbert,  house,  barn,  36 
acres,  $3,800 ;  D.  Tyler,  £  house,  1  barn,  47£  acres,  $3,- 
000;  Lewis  Whiting,  22  acres,  $2,500;  F.  A.  Potter, 
108  acres,  $3,500;  Chas.  T.  Kendrick,  house,  barn,  30 
acres,  $2,000 ;  Jenks,  farm,  new  house,  barn,  146  acres, 
$3,500.  In  1862  :  Tyler  farm,  house,  barn,  47  acres,  $4,200; 
Daniel  Giber t,  house,  barn,  34  acres,  $4,500 ;  Jenks'  farm, 
house,  barn,  146  acres,  $3,900  ;  Lewis  Whiting,  house,  barn, 
shed,  $2,450.  In  1864  :  Tyler  farm  divided,  now  $67  to  $70 
per  acre,  up  to  the  present  year.     Thus  the  reader  will 


105 

plainly  sec  that  the  Tyler  farm  has  always  been  taxed.  I 
shall  not  refer  to  the  railroad  damage  on  said  farm,  as  words 
are  powerless  to  show  the  ignominiousness  of  the  railroad 
appraisal  ;  it  is  soon  to  be  in  court. 

A  tribunal  where  equity  ought  to  reign  supreme.  The 
parties  in  suit  are  tauntingly  assured  by  the  glassware  man 
and  his  followers,  we  shall  be  divested  of  all  in  the  contro- 
versy, as  the  court  is  to  be  fully  controlled  by  the  railroad 
defendants. 

A  point  omitted  in  my  letter  of  the  17th — A.  E.  Batcheller 
building  and  stand.     The  building  was  sold  for  most  §1,000, 
the  town  paying  $500  for  one-half  of  said  building  which  is 
now  our  custom  house.  The  land  connected  with  said  build- 
ing, containing  fourteen  rods,  sold  for   a  little  over  $5,000. 
Said  land,  together  with  land  owned  by  heirs  of  Dexter 
Stoddard  joining,  was  bought  by  Daniel  Whiting,  December, 
1849,  said  Whiting  paying  $100  for  the  same.     Thus    the 
$5,000  lot  cost  less  than  $20  in  1819.     Also,  I  stated  in  my 
letter  that  the  North  Brookfield  Railroad  would  and  must 
ever  remain  a  branch  road,  because  of  its  grade,  or  require 
two  engines  for  constant  use,  should  an  attempt  ever  be 
made  to  go  west,  or  north  from  this  route.     As  the  railroad 
is  built,  it  is  and  can  be  clearly  shown   to  be  special  indi- 
vidual profit.     A.  &  H.  Batcheller  subscribed  for  and  took 
$3,000  worth  of  stock  in  said  railroad.     The  report  has  it 
that  said  company  cleared  over  $20,000  on  freights  last  year 
compared  with  the  previous  year.    Thus  you  see  in  ten  years 
(the  term  the  road  is  leased  to  the  Boston  &  Albany)  said 
company  will  accumulate  $200,000,  besides  all  other  emolu- 
ments and  ease  of  which  they  are  the  recipients  from  said 
road,  &c.     Other  parties  are  making  wonderful  strides  to  for- 
tune in  this  town,  which  have  been  and  are  so  ably  set  forth 
by  the  late  glass  and  crockery-ware  drummer.    Said  business 
he  followed  for  years,  giving  him  this  powerful  vernacular  over 
the  ignorant  and  stupid,  making  them  his  mere  tools  for 
his  and  a  few  others'  aggrandizement.     Nine-tenths  of  said 
drummer's  report  as  to  the  town's  advantage  in  having  said 
railroad  is  as  frail  and  bawbling  as  the  ware  he  sold  was 
brittle.     As  said  drummer  has  changed  his  business,  and  is 


106 

now  a  manufacturer  of  ladies'  corsets  in  Worcester,  the  great 
advantage  lie  derives  from  said  railroad,  as  be  leaves  Iris 
family  in  the  morning  and  returns  in  the  evening,  "  of  course 
on  a  season  ticket  and  his  family  eligible  for  free  rides,"  as 
report  has  it.  He  and  a  few  others,  have  reason  to  shout  and 
cry  aloud  how  great  and  munificent  that  North  Brookfield 
Railroad  is  to  us.  But,  readers,  to  have  your  properly  taken 
illegally  and  you  made  poor  individually,  and  your  property 
a  sinking  fund  to  make  a  few  parties'  fortunes,  and  know  that 
the  thousands  subscribed  to  the  Southbridge  Railroad  was 
made  by  your  ruin,  is  not  a  fanciful  situation. 

North  Beookfield  Town  Meeting. 

On  the  29th  of  January,  1875,  the  following  articles  were 
acted  upon  :  "  Article  2.  To  see  if  the  town  will  vote  to  sub- 
scribe for  and  hold  shares  in  the  capital  stock  of  the  North 
Brookfield  Railroad  Company,"  &c.  "  To  see  if  the  town 
will  vote  to  become  an  associate,"  &c.  "  4th.  To  see  what 
action  the  town  will  take  in  regard  to  raising  money  to  aid  in 
building  a  railroad  from  North  Brookfield  to  East  Brookfield, 
&c.  The  second  article  was  acted  upon  first;  viz.  :  "  Will  the 
town  subscribe  for  and  hold  shares  to  the  amount  of  $90,000  in 
the  capital  stock  of  the  North  Brookfield  Railroad  Company;" 
carried.  Third  Article,  "  To  see  if  the  town  would  become 
an  associate  for  the  formation  of  the  North  Brookfield  Rail- 
road Company ; "  carried.  On  the  fourth  article,  the  town 
chose  Chas.  Adams,  Jr.,  Bonum  Nye,  and  S.  S.  Edmunds,  to 
act  with  our  town  treasurer  in  negotiating  for  the  amount 
subscribed  for. 

Eminent  lawyers,  in  Worcester,  have  been  consulted  upon 
the  legality  of  the  above  proceedings,  and  the  following  is 
their  decision  :  "  The  town  had  no  authority,  Jan.  29,  1875, 
to  vote  to  become  an  associate  in  the  North  Brookfield  Rail- 
road Corporation,  and  the  subscriptions  of  Charles  Adams, 
Jr.,  agent  to  the  town,  to  the  articles  of  association,  and  to 
$90,000  of  stock,  is  void !  ! "  The  above  decision,  which 
canvasses  a  law  question,  has  called  forth  from  the  Art  Critic 
the  following,  which  has  been  thrust  in  the  burdened  tax- 
payers' face  :  "  The  old  maids  and  farmers  of  North  Brook- 


107 

field  have  a  bastard  young  one,  without  a  backbone,  thrown 
upon  them  to  pay  for  and  support,  at  the  figure  of  $90,000." 

At  the  town  meeting,  June  14,  1875,  when  it  was  to  give 
up  or  proceed  in  building  the  railroad,  fully  half  of  the  au- 
dience were  boys  and  unnaturalized  citizens,  who  shouted 
and  stamped  uproariously,  and  did  not  hesitate  to  vote  when 
the  yeas  and  nays  were  called.  Thus  the  vote  to  proceed  to 
build  had  more  than  fifty  illegal  votes. 

The  town  was  pledged  to  have  the  railroad  fully  equipped 
with  rolling  stock,  and  for  $100,000.  The  $100,000  is  taken 
up  and  we  have  no  rolling  stock,  but  we  are  paying  to  the 
Boston  &  Albany  Railroad  $2,000  per  year  for  the  use  of 
rolling  stock  upon  said  road,  which  is  six  per  cent,  interest 
of  $33,333.33^-100.  Thus  the  demand  for  our  road  was 
$133,333  5-IOO  ;  thus  one-third  more  for  equipment. 

11  11.  Hill. 


108 

A  VOICE  FROM  THE  CITY  OF  THE  DEAD. 


BY    E.    R.    HILL. 


[Suggested  by  the  vandal  spirit  which  characterizes  the  plucking  of  flowers 
from  cemetery  lots.] 

Mortals  spare  these  blooming  flowers — 

I  pray,  them  harmless  save, 
To  watch  through  night's  long  dreary  hours 

Round  my  dark,  lonely  grave. 

Shew  kindness  to  these  little  gems— 

Don't  take  them  from  my  bed ; 
More  precious  far  than  diadems 

That  crown  a  monarch's  head. 

Spare,  then,  oh  spare  this  little  lot, 

The  only  boon  I  crave  ; 
My  spirit  lingers  round  this  spot, 

And  in  its  odors  lave. 

Commit  thou  here  no  sacrilege; 

Mourners  revere  this  plot 
And  deck  it  with  a  living  pledge.— 

Tho'  dead,  I'm  not  forgot. 

May  all  observe  the  ten  commands, 

To  break  the  least  one  dread, 
Then  men  won't  rob,  with  ruthless  hands, 

The  city  of  the  dead. 

Tread  softly — the  ground  is  holy  ! 

See  whose  grave  she  weepeth  o'er ; 
Lo,  the  simple  superscription, — 

Little  Darlings, — nothing  more. 

That's  enough  !     These  pregnant  letters 

Speak  a  volume  to  the  heart, 
Full  of  more  pathetic  meaning 

Than  the  labored  lines  of  art. 

.North  Bkookfield,  August  24,  1S77. 

(Printed  in  Spencer  Sim,  Mass.,  August  31st,  1877.) 


109 

[Spencer  Sun,  August,  31st,  1811.] 

West  Brookfield,  August  8. 
Mr.  Editor, — What's  the  matter  with  that  North  Brook- 
field  Railroad?     You  seem  to  doubt  that  its  dividend  last 

year  was  2.\  per  cent.  Why,  they  have  a  rising  young  poli- 
tician over  there  who  figures  up  in  their  town  report  a 
dividend  to  the  people  of  North  Brookfield  of  20  per  cent., 
or  $20,000,  last  year.  That  young  man  displays  a  head  for 
figures  that  should  warrant  his  immediate  employment  by 
the  Charter  Oak  Insurance  Company  to  figure  up  the  value 
of  the  assets  of  that  famous  concern  for  the  edification  of 
their  policy  holders.  I  noticed  one  day  last  week  no  less 
than  six  loads  of  coal  going  over  to  the  North  village  from 
here,  and  I  understand  that  ever  since  the  railroad  was  buiit 
our  dealers  have  supplied  coal  by  teams  from  here  to  the 
North  25  and  50  cents  per  ton  cheaper  than  their  famous 
railroad  has  been  able  to  do.  Parties  looking  at  some  of 
the  empty  shops  over  there  with  a  view  to  business,  found 
freights  70  cents  per  ton  on  the  railroad  and  50  cents  from 
depot  to  shop,  or  $1.20  per  ton,  while  they  found  that  they 
could  have  teams  bring  from  East  Brookfield  or  West 
Brookfiuld  io  them  for  $1.00  per  ton,  or  20  cents  less  than 
railroad  rates.  The  inducement  to  locate  there  to  help  pay 
a  $70,000  railroad  debt  was  not  inviting,  especially  as  the 
present  rate  to  reach  their  shop  or  residence  is  the  same  as 
the  old  stage  coach  rate,  unless  they  foot  it  and  back  their 
trunk.  East  Brookfield  seems  to  be  receiving  nil  the  dividends 
declared  by  the  North  Brookfield  Railroad.  Nevertheless 
the  rising  young  politician  expects  to  declare  a  40  per  cent, 
dividend  this  year  (on  paper).  It  is  rumored  that  the  de- 
clared dividend  of  last  year  is  to  be  used  to  aid  the  South- 
bridge  Railroad,  and  the  40  per  cent,  dividend  of  this  year 
to  build  your  Spencer  Railroad  next  spring. 

Facts. 


[Spencer  Sun,  September  1th,  1811.] 

Of  the  four  railroad  land  damage  claims  which  have  been 
entered  in  the  courts,  all  but  that  of  Mrs.  E.  R.  Hill  are 


110 

now  settled  ;  only  one  having  been  tried.  No  one  feels  like 
blaming  the  directors  for  their  action  in  relation  to  rights  of 
way  for  the  road,  though  there  is  a  general  feeling  that  they 
made  a  great  mistake  in  attempting  to  themselves  adjust 
these  claims  in  the  first  place,  however  commendaV)le  their 
intentions.  While  the  town  was  very  unanimous  in  voting 
for  the  road,  a  small  minority,  especially  those  whose  lands 
were  to  be  taken,  were  opposed.  The  directors,  no  doubt, 
thought  to  conciliate  all  these  by  paying  them  generously, 
and  even  more  than  disinterested  appraisers  would  be  likely 
to  give  them,  so  that  when  the  road  should  be  completed 
and  used,  all  opposition  and  local  friction  should  cease. 
But  in  this  they  were  doomed  to  disappointment ;  for  so 
long  as  one  land  owner  could  make  himself  believe  that  he 
was  not  rated  as  high  in  proportion  as  some  other  one,  even 
twice  or  thrice  the  value  of  his  land  did  not  satisfy  him. 
Townsmen  who  had  no  official  connection  with  the  road, 
and  whose  attention  was  not  especially  called  to  these  land 
claims  until  they  were  in  court,  freely  express  their  astonish- 
ment that  the  damages  were  laid  so  high  not  only  by  land 
owners  but  by  the  directors,  and  they  cannot  but  ask  them- 
selves why  an  acre  or  two  of  land  taken  from  a  larger 
amount,  none  of  which  was  worth  for  any  purpose  for  which 
it*  could  be  used,  more  than  $50  to  $100  per  acre  should  be- 
come worth  $300  to  $500  per  acre  for  railroad  purposes 
when  the  remaining  lands  were  not  damaged  in  regard  to 
access  or  occupancy.  Should  said  roads  be  built  in  other 
towns,  and  it  be  true  that  human  nature  is  everywhere  the 
same,  the  experience  of  North  Brookfield  would  suggest  to 
all  those  who  shall  have  such  matters  to  deal  with,  and  who 
also  desire  to  avoid  local  friction  and  the  stirring  up  of  bad 
blood,  that  they  commit  the  appraisal  of  land  damages  to 
the  legally  constituted  authorities  outside  of  themselves. 


Ill 


My  work  and  improvements  are  making  good  progress; 
I  have  the  gentleman,  for  such  lie  seems  to  bo,  who  lives  on 
Jenks'  farm,  engaged  to  build,  or  aid  in  building,  my  stone 
wall,  take  down  my  hewn  stone  tomb  built  by  K.  Hill,  Jr., 
in\  1858,  the  stone  to  be  used  for  underpinning  to  my  L ; 
also  to  raise  my  barn  three  feet  or  more  so  that  a  horse 
may  go  under.  Said  gentleman,  and  son  yoke  of  cattle 
and  horse  were  under  engagement  to  work  for  so  much  per 
day  till  said  work  was  completed  ;  also  a  cellar  wall  builder 
was  hired  to  commence  said  work  one  week  from  Thursday, 
and  to  work  from  ten  to  twelve  days,  as  the  demand  for  such 
labor  should  require.  &c.  Morse  working  digging  trenches, 
cutting  weeds,  cutting  walnut  trees,  as  I  had  marked  from 
twelve  to  fifteen  to  be  cut  for  the  saw  mill,  having  seen  Doane 
of  East  Brookfield,  and  disposed  of  the  same  in  part,  &c.  My 
faithful  man  accomplishing  with  his  might  all  he  undertook ; 
with  mjr  guide  and  help  business  was  being  dispatched.  All 
at  once  a  dozen  of  men,  more  or  less,  made  their  appearance 
on  my  railroad  bed  in  my  beautiful  rich  mowing,  where  I  was 
performing  menial  services  that  those  very  men,  all  but  two, 
were  devising,  and  had  been  from  the  laying  out  of  the  rail- 
road, to  filch  me  out  of  my  last  dollar  if  need  be,  to  prevent 
one  more  cent  coming  out  of  their  pockets,  and  most  of 
them  recipients  of  cheap  freight,  &c,  Charles  Duncan, 
Augustus  Smith,  T.  Clark,  Hiram  Knight,  Lewis  Hill, 
Botliwell  B.  Thurston  (enough)  had  told  me  repeatedly  I 
was  offered  five  times,  ten  times,  nine  times  what  it  was 
worth,  as  their  feelings  happened  to  gull  forth  to  insult  me, 
who,  in  their  thirst  for  riches  and  to  trammel  me,  were 
thus  arrayed,  speaking  loudly  in  words  of  unmistakable 
thunder  by  their  way  :  "  You'll  g  t  just  what  I  assess,  and 
nothing  more."  "  Gentlemen  of  the  railroad  rapacity,  you 
seem  to  have  much  time  to  devote  to  reconnoitre,  and  thus 
display  your  consequential  ignoramus  physics  to  my  disgust, 
and   contempt   and   scorn,   upon    my   land   that   you  havo 


112 

illegally  robbed  me  of,  making  me  poor  indeed."  Upon  this 
Botlrwell  grabs  my  arm,  shaking  mo  as  a  dog  would  a  wood- 
chuck,  saying  :  "  You  stop  your  blab,  or  I'll  put  you  in  the 
lock-up  forthwith,"  still  shaking.  "You  insignificant,  trespass- 
ing cur,  take  your  hands  off  of  me."  Mr.  Morse  (colored 
man),  working  in  agony  at  the  sight  of  the  beastly  proceed- 
ing :  "  In  God's  time,  for  this  assault  you  will  be  held 
amenable."  Every  man  in  broad  grin  at  Bothwell's  doings 
spurs  him  on.  He  grips  and  shakes  vigorously.  "  We  have 
heard  the  last  of  your  blab  on  the  railroad,  we  are  gon',  too. 
And  you  remember,  if  you" — "  Take  your  hands  off  of  me" — 
"  begin  to  speak  of  this  affair  any  way  I'll  have  you  in  the 
lockup.  Understand  me,  one  time  more  ivill  put  you  in  the 
lock-up."  Bothwell  letting  go  of  my  arm  as  the  men  were 
on  and  could  not  see  him,  said  railroad  horde  going  to 
my  further  mowing  returned  with  evident  satisfaction  at 
their  conclusions.  I  said  :  "  You  left  your  two-legged  dog 
here  while  you  viewed  my  land  in  your  custody,  which  is  as 
a  sinking  fund  to  make  you  wealthy,  and  have  ease  and  hap- 
piness, and  to  liquidate  the  rich  abuudance  which  my  land  is 
productive  of  to  you.  The  widow's  mite  would  not  be  given 
me  by  your  bastard  souls."  Bothwell,  grabbing  again  (Dea- 
con Thurston  in  great  glee  as  well  as  twelve-year,  more  or 
less,  church-moiled  Augustus  Smith):  "You  have  got  to 
go  into  the  lock-up  !"  "  Bothwell,  if  there  is  an  ourang  on 
God's  footstool  that  knows  as  little  as  you,  I  think  Barnum 
must  have  him.  I'll  write  forthwith  and  see  if  Barnum  will 
give  you  his  place,  and  thus  raise  stnne  honest  money  for 
you !"     Langhiug  he  goes  on  with  his  gang. 

Reader,  there  are  not  words  enough  in  the  English  vo- 
cabulary to  express  my  feelings  of  contempt  towavd  those 
deacons,  church  members,  friends  and  members  with  whom  my 
hard  earnings  had  contributed  for  the  support  and  spread  of 
the  gospel  at  home  and  abroad  ;  men  who  had  always,  since 
their  residence  in  town,  (God  be  praised,  they  are  not  natives) 
never  known  me  to  be  anything  but  one  of  the  mo  t 
straightforward,  unimpeachable  females  on  earth,  and  they, 
in  their  dollar  rapacity,  are  ready  to  sink  me  in  contunuJ y 
and  shame,  to  cover  their  illegal  traffic.      At  my  cottag  ) 


113 

house,  for  in  no  other  place  on  earth  is  such  hallowed,  griof • 
stricken  association,  and  in  no  place  under  heaven  could  I 
stay  but  there  ;  where  I  see  my  darling  boys  in  every  room, 
constantly  loving,  soothing,  bearing  me  up  with  their  angel 
whispers.  I  bathe  in  arnica  Both  well's  grip  plainly  to  be  seen, 
my  frame  in  agony,  physically  and  mentally,  and  I  cry  in 
anguish,  "  where  art  thou,  oh  God  of  justice,  whore?"  it's 
enough  to  blind  the  strongest  faith,  to  see  such  iniquity  pre- 
vail. I  only  take  a  remedial  composition,  No.  6,  and  retire 
before  dark.  In  the  morning  I  rise,  sore  from  Bothwell's 
rough  handling  and  my  hard  labor.  It  is  the  day  ap- 
pointed to  be  in  Worcester  about  my  monument.  I  am  off. 
Next  day  it  rains.  I  rest  on  my  couch,  glad  indeed  for  the 
chance  to  lie  abed  all  day,  more  or  less. 

Kev.  Mr.  Murray's  argument  on  this  last  point  is  mine  also. 

In  Hammersfield  churchyard,  Suffolk,  on  Robert  Crytoft, 
obit.  1810,  aged  90  r 

As  I  walked  by  myself,  I  talked  to  myself, 

And  this  myself  said  to  me  : 
Look  to  thyself,  and  take  care  of  thyself, 

For  nobody  cares  for  thee. 

Monday,  Sept  10th,  business  is  progressing  like  a  weaver's 
shuttle.  Thursday  four  men,  yoke  of  cattle  and  horse  will 
begin  to  bring  to  pass  my  plans  for  digging  cellar  under  L, 
laying  wall  first  from  the  garden  lot  to  cemetery.  Brother 
tells  me  bloat  Bates'  brother  is  dead,  relating  when  he  saw 
him  last,  and  where,  and  what  doing,  etc.  Another  telling 
still  more.  The  town  having  been  blest  with  the  absence  of 
that  posterity  as  soon  as  freedom  from  parental  authority 
would  permit — the  father  dying  with  apoplexy.  The 
mother  saying  North  Brookfield  was  not  large  enough  for  her 
children's  progress,  &.c.  The  mother's  mind  is  much  like 
glassware,  and  the  family  are  noted  for  great  representations 
by  all.  In  J.  Duncan's  words,  "  they  have  more  wind  than 
brains." 

We  all  present,  telling  some  happy  reminiscense  (that  is 
laughable),  I  brought  up  the  rear  by  saviug  :  Whereas, 
if  it  could  please  Almighty  God  to  remove  hence  T.  C. 
Bates  at  this  time  with  his  brother,  the  devil  would  have  a 


114 

grand  span  to  hitch  np  when  starting  on  one  of  his  exploring 
expeditions,  "seeking  whom  he  may  devour.*' 

I  imagine  my  readers  calling  for  another  epitaph. 

An    epitaph    in    a    churchyard    in   Seven   Oaks,   Kent, 

England  : 

"  Here  lies  old  33  percent., 
The  more  he  made  the  more  he  lent, 
The  more  he  got  the  more  he  craved, 
The  more  he  made  the  more  he  shaved, 
Great  God,  can  such  a  soul  be  saved?" 

September  10th,  1S77.  Robert  Morse  is  trimming  my 
apple  trees  in  front  the  old  homestead — every  branch  thereof 
dear  to  me,  because  they  are  of  my  father's  planting. 
"An  Ethiopian  could  change  his  skin,  and  a  leopard  his 
spots,"  as  easy  as  it  would  be  for  me  to  do  the  same  labor 
anywhere  else  that  I  can  and  have  performed  upon  this  my 
once  seven  and  a-half  acres  of  land,  which  that  Bates  & 
Bachellor  Railroad  have  so  hideously  ruined  for  my  pur- 
poses long  since  planned.  And  the  slavish  labor  at  my 
Hill  residence,  to  bring  in  repairs  after  nearly  seven  years' 
renting  to  Tom,  Dick  and  Harry.  But  that  tomb  in  the  gar- 
den containing  my  once  husband's  first  wife  and  child,  and 
our  four  darling  toys.  That  house  and  barn,  those  grape  vines 
and  valuable  fruit  trees,  with  their  sacred  associations,  have 
ever  spurred  (as  Dr.  Porter  said  in  his  certificate  of  recom- 
mendation, which  I  would  here  insert,  but  it  is  in  the  cottage 
house)  my  indomitable  courage  on  to  repair  and  keep  rev- 
erently every  token  of  the  above  association  ;  safely  guarding 
every  point  from  the  encroachment  of  the  vandals,  which  in 
our  midst  so  abound.  Still,  having  sympathy  for  their  needs 
and  giving  of  my  mite  as  I  could,  since  the  ball  club  rap, 
my  income  has  been  too  small  for  necessary  needs,  and  thus 
avoid  consuming  my  real  estate.  Thus,  I  was  laboring  with 
my  might,  while  I  was  in  school,  summer  and  winter, 
private  school  spring  and  fall.  My  two  years'  and  more 
feeble  health  (after  ball  blow).  My  land  was  neglected, 
only  selling  its  products  at  standing  prices;  my  purposes, 
long  since  planned,  are  being  at  this  time  completed; 
not  being  in  public  school  sinco    "  said  blow;"  and  normal 


115 

teacher  being  sought — brains  and  adaptation  not  qualities 
requisite  ;  for  most  of  the  committee  are  so  ignorant,  who 
employ  them,  and  have  charge  of  our  schools,  and  our  school 
mediocrity  is  apparent  as  noonday. 

Thirty  years  since,  North  Brookfield,  Massachusetts, 
was  the  highest  type  of  morality,  virtue  and  educating 
power  of  any  town  within  the  radius  of  twenty  miles ;  and 
it  has  been  my  opinion,  well  grounded  with  careful  knowl- 
edge, that  with  the  number  of  her  inhabitants,  her  equal  is 
not  to  be  found,  in  my  knowledge,  east  of  the  Alleghany 
mountains,  of  being  the  reverse  of  the  above  statement* at 
this  date  ;  and,  it  shocks  my  inmost  soul  to  see  its  depravity, 
and  also  the  ignorance  and  official  barbarity  which  charac- 
terize those  who  happen  to  hold  office — many  of  said  offices 
being  filled  with  those  depraved,  low  minds,  just  a  grade 
higher  than  the  wolf  and  swine.  Notwithstanding  the 
great  rush  to  get  the  almighty  dollar,  there  has  been 
reported  one  minister  of  the  gospel  certain,  and  maybe 
two,  declined  a  call  to  the  "  Union  Congregational  Church, 
because  of  its  querulous  spirit,  of  which  church  I  was  mem- 
ber;  said  church  I  have  not  entered  since  March  1st,  Sab- 
bath communion,  1872  ;  stating,  on  leaving  said  chur<  h,  \o 
Charles  Underwood  and  others,  I  never  should  darken  the 
doors  thereof  again,  till  Freman  Walker,  Samuel  Skerry 
and  some  others  were  disciplined  according  to  Congrega- 
tional usages,  in  their  fabricating  testimony  against  me,  etc. 
The  very  church  I  labored  day  and  night,  working  night 
after  night,  without  laying  mj"  head  on  a  pillow,  making  pants 
and  dresses — everything  to  aid,  support  for  said  society; 
waiting  upon  and  providing  for  sewing  circles  from  fifty  to 
eighty,  and  for  Sabbath  School  class,  parties,  &c,  as  my 
husband  would  not  permit  me  the  use  of  his  means  for 
such  purposes.  Thus  I  labored,  thinking  it  was  my  duty. 
Said  sewiug  circle's  large  ledger  book  was  thus  earned,  and 
presented  to  said  body  while  secretary  and  treasurer,  1857, 
'8  and  '9.  Mrs.  Amasa  Walker  requesting  me,  on  presenta- 
tion, to  write  m}r  name,  &c,  within,  which  I  did  ;  and  they 
must  constantly  be  reminded  of  me,  unless  they  have  cut  it 
out. 


116 

And  the  citizens,  well  knowing  I  could  command  and 
effect  the  establishment  of  a  private  high  school,  and  thus 
my  work  of  enlarging  my  house  and  making  preparation  for 
to  keep  my  hired  man  in  attendance  the  year  round.  Mr. 
Haston  assists  me  to-day,  and  I,  reckless  of  my  life, 
worked  with  said  man  to  put  into  the  barn  this  very  day, 
more  than  ten  hundred  of  rowen  cut  Friday  previous.  Mr. 
Quigley,  a  worthy,  respected  man,  came  into  my  yard, 
speaking  of  the  immense  second  crop  of  rowen  on  the  Hill 
plot,  and  of  my  great  improvements  made  from  time  to 
time. 

September  11th. — I  cau't  delve  in  labor  to  day.  The 
couch  only  is  a  fit  place  for  me.  That  is  Robert's  step; 
faithful  of  the  faithful,  his  tools  are  at  father's  house.  I. 
must  bestir  myself.  I'll  not  stop  for  breakfast,  but  hasten 
clown  and  have  Robert  remove  those  broken  apple  tree 
limbs  (l>.oken  off  by  ice  and  wind  last  winter),  as  they  are 
and  have  been  a  terrible  eye-sore  to  me  (and  it's  probable 
the  funeral  of  the  above  mentioned  Bates  will  be  to-day), 
and  the  rough  look  of  those  trees  shall  not  mar  the  prospect 
of  any  in  said  procession  in  their  great  display,  if  it's  in  my 
power  to  remove  them.  I  am  on  the  ground  already,  the  axe 
is  wielding,  bringing  about  my  purposes. 

I  don't  see  my  brother;  have  you.  Robert?  Perhaps  he 
is  butcln'ring  this  morning  ;  I  will  go  and  see  ;  I  find  him  in 
the  valley  of  despair.  No  fire — I  set  myself  to  work; 
brother  is  clearly  discouraged,  because  he  has  taken  the  nom- 
inal pittance  granted  him  for  his  land  taken,  and  would  not 
have  complied,  had  it  not  been  owing  to  his  counsel,  etc. 
Just  say  to  the  railroad  lawyer  you  are  emplo}ring  :  "Would 
to  Heaven  I  could  here  state  the  way  they  have  managed, 
but  I  am  going  to  wait  a  little  longer  ;  each  time  of  action 
shall  be  set  forth  with  perfect  accuracy."  It  is  high  time 
that  this  court  farce  should  be  ended!  Money  instead  of 
justice  is  on  the  throne ! 

I  got  his  breakfast,  and  tried  to  rouse  him  with  my  vig- 
orous talk,  etc.,  telling  him  I  shall  cause  the  banks  of  New 
England  to  smash  when  my  case  has  a  legal  adjudication,  &c. 
Then  I'll  fix  up  and  make  great  display.   As  those  who  have 


117 

you  now  cribbed  as  well  as  said  railroad,  (hey  not  being 
able  to  circumnavigate  jour  youngest  bister  yet,  with  all 
their  bought  in  influences.  After  breakfast  1  aw  hard  at 
work  gathering  up  boughs,  etc.  It's  nearly  noon.  It  has 
just  come  into  my  mind  that  both  outside  doors  and  some 
windows  are  open  in  my  cottage.  Wo  are  holding  the  lad- 
der to  the  elm  in  front  of  father's  house,  while  Robert 
stands  upon  it  on  the  wall ;  I  am  in  terror,  fearing  lie  will  fall. 
The  branches  are  oil';  I  go  for  bed  cord.  1  go  to  the  Louse 
for  my  shawl,  &c. ;  as  I  came  oil*  those  huge  door  stones,  J. 
Duncan  turns  his  horse  right  upon  me  with  a  sudden  jerk  ; 
I  spring  back.  "  You  vilest  of  the  vile,  dare  thus  to  intrude 
upou  me  as  if  in  mockery  to  make  me  move  for  you,  you  de- 
praved of  all  depravity  !"  Duncan,  getting  out,  handing  the 
reins  to  a  bo}T  with  him,  boy  going  back  towards  the  village, 
Duncan  crossing  to  my  bars,  front  of  the  house  (as  the  pro- 
file within  will  show  the  reader),  takes  hold  of  the  posts  and 
gives  them  a  shake  as  if  to  see  their  strength,  &c.  "You 
worse  than  murderer,  you  have  been  told  not  to  trespass 
upon  my  premises."  He  looks  at  me  with  a  vile  smirk  that 
only  his  mouth  and  eyes  can  give — said  senses  are  fearfully 
vile,  in  'their  expression  in  their  best  state.  I  step  into  the 
door,  and  call  the  lady  to  look  at  J.  Duncan,  the  monster  of 
monsters,  who  used  my  name  to  get  his  insuiauee,  saying  I 
set  fire  to  his  building,  that  his  jealous  crazed  wife  and  tamily 
had  been  devising  to  bring  about  for  years.  I  have  heard 
their  threats  hundreds  of  times  in  her  jealous  frenzy,  wishing 
the  same  time  every  painted-faced  widow  could  be  in  the 
midst,  etc.  The  lady  looked  as  Duncan  was  at  the  other 
bar  posts  with  his  hand  upon  them.  I  say,  "  See  his  vile 
face." 

Said  building  being  under  an  insurance  blanket  for  $2,000, 
more  or  less,  above  any  purchasers  price  would  have  paid, 
&c.  Mrs.  Duncan  sending  her  sons  and  daughters  there  in 
ways  various,  to  watch  their  father  and  the  "  widders";  and 
scores  of  times  I  have  heard  from  her  lips,  as  well  as  G. 
Dale,  who  figured  with  whispering  voice,  telling  the  story 
they  had  made  up  and  learned  parrot  like.  Having 
previously  seen  in  my  counsel  employed  suspicious  manage- 


118 

mcnt,  I  went  to  P.  Emory  Aldrich  (now  judge),  to  take  my 
case,  telling  him  so  and  so.  Said  Honorable  duly  saw  said  V., 
stating  my  desire,  &c.  Said  V.  replied  to  the  Honorable 
that  there  had  been  a  misunderstanding  between  Mrs.  H. 
and  himself — he  still  retained  the  case  and  should  and  did. 
And  my  submitting,  when  I  ought  to  have  resisted,  caused  me, 
I  believe,  to  lose  thousands  upon  thousands,  which,  instead  of 
the  small  pittance  given  me,  would  have  been  decreed  me  had 
said  Honorable  managed  my  case.  Duncan's  son  Charles 
has  been  established  in  different  business  with  his  father's 
money,  and  four  times  failed,  at  the  right  time,  as  report  has 
it,  Drury  and  J.  E.  Porter,  and  others,  losing  from  $300, 
$1,000,  §1,500,  and  so  on.  The  last  development  set  forth 
in  our  midst,  I  heard  Osty  Hebard  relating.  Said  Duncan 
would  rent  weakly  carriages,  and  some  accident  would  befall 
e'er  they  were  returned  to  the  stable,  for  which  he  would  get 
fabulous  prices  (considering),  &c.  The  carriage  repairer  and 
dealer  having  had  fallen  out  one  time,  said  repairer  refusing 
to  bill  in  repairs,  the  certain  repairs  mentioned  many  times 
before,  saying  he  drew  pay  enough  on  that  hole  for  a  dozen 
carriages.  Said  Duncan  has  a  son  Wendsl,  and  Frank,  that 
will  till  the  places  of  the  two  older  members  well,  if  nothing 
happens  to  them. 

Reader,  I  will  here  say,  at  that  court  in  Worcester,  money, 
instead  of  truth  or  law,  or  evidence,  was  on  the  throne,  as 
everything  under  heaven  was  done  to  cover  the  guilt}'  party, 
and  kill  the  innocent.  Report  has  it,  money  buried  the 
criminal,  and  the  ladies  that  Mrs.  D.  had  wanted  to  put  the 
fagots  about  and  see  the  grease  fry  out  of,  could  be  with  her, 
as  never  before,  and  manjr  others  with  Duncan  ready  for  a 
time,  and  when  she  would  at  home  demur,  as  listening  ears 
have  told,  he  would  say  "  you  can't  get  up  another  court." 
I  hasten  homewards  for  bed  cord,  and  to  shut  up  my  house. 

I  have  all,  and  lunched,  and  some  for  Robert,  locked  my 
door  and  off ;  ere  I  gel  out  of  my  yard,  I  see  a  procession  ; 
I  go  back ;  seat  myself  in  the  parlor,  at  the  east  window — 
the  only  one  open  in  the  house — in  arm  chair  ;  as  I  looked 
up  bloat  Bates  was  looking  down  on  Eae,  looking  like  a 
double  sunflower,  and  no  more   sad,  notwithstanding  the 


119 

sceno.  Seeiug  my  neighbor  in  sight  that  I  had  been  in  the 
habit  of  speaking  to,  I  addressed  her,  "  You  see  the  g  trn- 
blers'  display,"  etc.  Such  scenes  affect  me  just  as  John  B. 
Gough  views  those  scenes  since  the  burial  of  his  mother. 
Waiting  till  time  for  them  to  reach  the  yard,  I  started 
again,  coming  out  of  my  gate,  the  omnibus  approaching  to 
bring  back  masons;  I  waited  for  it  to  pass  on;  and  the 
retinue  gone,  T  make  another  start,  saying,  a  perfect  type  of 
Bates'  hinderance,  from  the  time  he  gained  monopoly  of  the 
rambling  crew  in  the  big  shop.  On  reaching  my  first  mow- 
ing, I»saw  my  man  had  fallen  a  large  walnut  tree,  and  was 
trimming,  As  my  order,  as  to  the  butt,  had  not  been  given, 
I  called  him,  and  told  him  to  leave  the  butt  its  full  length 
for  the  saw  mil.  Robert  not  noticing,  I  raised  my  voice  in 
repetition.  I  then  passed  where  we  were,  to  be  back  to  the 
elm  tree  ;  two  horses  were  hitched  at  my  bars  where  I  enter, 
the  omnibus  being  between  said  carriages  and  father's  house. 
I  turned  sideways  to  pass  through, — I  could  not  have  gone 
abreast  without  rubbing  my  clothes  on  the  wheel, — saying  at 
the  same  time  to  omnibus  driver:  "Please  unhitch  those  horses 
from  my  bars;  I  wish  to  pass  through,  and  more,  a  gambler's 
horse  cannot  be  hitched  to  my  bars."     The  driver  thought 

it  "d n  mean  if  a  horse  at  a  funeral  could  not  be  hitched 

there."  I  said  :  "You  please  attend  to  this  forthwith  ;  cir- 
cumstances alter  cases  ;  I  refuse  no  one  the  privilege,  except 
those  who  have  to  me  committed  the  unpardonable  sin." 
Willie  Stoddard,  an  epileptic,  forthwith  commenced  damn- 
ing me.  I  remarked :  "Yon  are  a  precocious  nephew,"  at 
the  same  time  untying  the  horse,  not  moving  the  horse,  at 
the  post  where  I  pass  between  the  post  and  wall,  said  driver 
having  the  other  horse  pushed  back ;  I  passed  back  the 
same  as  I  had  advanced,  stepping  upon  ends  of  bars  beyond 
the  post  on  to  a  four  feet  wall,  walking  some  six  or  eight  feet 
before  I  could  get  down,  as  the  branches  trimmed  from  said 
tree  were  between  the  wall  and  the  tree. 

As  I  was  climbing  down,  I  saw  two  other  carriages  at  my 
other  bars ;  I  called  to  them,  saying  :  "  Gambler  Bates' 
horses  cannot  be  tied  to  my  property."  Parties  not  noticing, 
I  spoke  loud  to  be  heard,  and  none  too  loud  for  six  rods' 


120 

hearing;  they  saw  me,  and  grinned,  &c.  I  got  down;  in 
stepping  down,  I  stepped  just  the  right  way  to  bring  that 
hard,  painful  sensation  about  my  heart  which,  all  who  know 
me  at  home  have  heard  it  described,  my  hand  upon  the 
same  as  it  were  to  keep  it  within.  Willie  ordering  those 
horses  tied  back  with  boisterous  voice,  I  going  at  or  near  a  pile 
of  trimmed  branches  I  was  going  to  pile  for  sale,  wheu 
Bothwell's  voice  was  loud,  yes,  yelling,  "Let  those  horses 
be,  Miss  Hill,  don't  you ;"  Bothwell  running,  looking  like  an 
escaping  lunatic,  white  apron  and  gloves  and  black  elsewhere. 
Willie  informing  him  of  my  ugliness,  he  says :  "  Miss  Hill, 
don't  you  untie  these  horses  again."  "  I  shall,  sir  ;  a  gam- 
bler's funeral  horse  cannot  be  hitched  to  my  bars."  Both- 
well  sprang  over  the  wall  like  a  hound,  running  to  me,  grab- 
bing me,  saying  :  "You  have  got  to  go  to  the  lock-up",  calling 
Ralph  Bartlett  and  another  smaller  boy  to  let  down  the  bars, 
and  the  same  time  shouting  for  a  team  to  be  brought  to  him 
to  carry  Miss  Hill  to  the  lock-up  ;  and  I  tried  my  best  to  get 
from  the  foul  fiend,  calling  my  mau.  Bothwell  threw  me 
upon  the  ground,  resting  his  knee  upon  the  right  side  of  my 
bowels  and  hip,  hurting  me  so  badly  I  screeched  with 
agony,  he  throwing  his  right  leg  over  upon  my  left  leg  and 
ancle,  grazing  the  skin  six  to  ten  inches.  Bothwell  shouting 
to  the  Furnace  boy  to  come  and  hold  me,  also  to  omnibus 
driver ;  I  commanding  them  not  to  enter  upon  my  land,  as 
Bothwell  was  violating  the  statutes,  and  disturbing  the 
peace  ;  and  then  he,  for  the  first  time,  said  to  me,  "I  arrest 
you  for  disturbing  the  peace,"  the  Furnace  and  Bartlett  boy 
roaring  with  laughter,  and  Willie  Stoddard  also.  The  said 
three  above  mentioned  carried  me  and  threw  me  into  a 
wagon  like  a  beast,  Bothwell  grabbing  both  my  wrists  in  one 
hand  and  at  the  shoulder  pit  with  the  other ;  when  he  fast- 
ened hands  upon  me,  neither  hand  did  I  have  till  alter  I  was 
thrust  in  the  felon's  cell,  in  the  presence  of  that  vile  North 
Brookfield  Eing  posse,  who  were  having  a  jubilee,  never 
equalled  among  savages.  My  nephew,  Willie  Stoddard,  fol- 
lowing in  the  advance  crowd,  "  That's  good,  Bothwell,  keep 
her  there;  don't  let  her  out  at  all,"  &c.  The  chill  of  the  cell 
(it  being  a  very  warm  day,  and  I  in  thin  three  thickness  of 


121 

cambric-dress)  soon  caused  me  to  shake  as  with  the  ague ;  I 
demanded  to  be  let  out ;  I  had  forbidden  Bothwell  thrusting 
me  in  there  ;  I  resisted  in  the  power  of  my  might.  When 
Bothwell  locked  me  in  the  cell,  he  says  to  me :  "  I've  got 
you  where  I  want  you,  and  every  man,  woman,  and  child  in 
the  town  will  be  glad  to  hear  you  are  in  the  lock-up  ;  you 
remember  I  told  you  just  once  more,  and  I'll  lock  you  up." 
"  Bothwell,  I  am  not  here  a  criminal,  a  criminal  there, 
nothing  else  to  you  but  criminal.  You  will  suffer  for  this 
false  imprisonment." 

Bothwell :  "  Suffer  for  this  false  imprisonment.  I  shall  be 
doubly  paid  for  putting  you  in."  "  Bothwell,  I  wain  you  to 
be  careful  of  what  you  say  to  me  in  this  felon's  cell,  for  God 
and  His  angels  are  witnesses  of  your  ±alse  imprisonment  of 
me  in  this  loathsome  hole  ;  your  every  expression  I  shall 
cause  to  be  printed,  the  full  account  of  which  shall  be 
spread  as  far  as  any  act  ever  done  in  Massachusetts."  B. : 
"  Now  I  tell  you,  Miss  Hill,  do  you  dry  up.  If  I  hear  another 
word  about  printing,  d — n  ye,  I'll  put  the  gag  on  and  the 
handcuffs."  Hundreds  were  without  the  cell.  I  screeched 
for  to  be  let  out,  as  it  was  endangering  my  life  to  be  in 
there.  Bothwell  says,  "  Dry  up  ;  I'll  have  the  gag  on  you  ; 
who  cares  for  your  life  ?  Everybody  will  be  glad  to  have 
you  die,"  &c.  Bothwell  going  out,  my  brother  from  the 
homestead  came  to  him  and  demanded  my  release.  "You 
have  no  right  nor  reason  to  imprison  my  sister.  I  demand 
her  release."  Bothwell,  grabbing  his  collar,  said  :  "  You 
say  another  word,  and  I'll  put  you  in  the  other  one.  Then 
two  cells  will  be  filled."  I  begged  of  my  brother  to  go  home, 
thanking  him  for  his  good  purpose.  "  Bothwell  longs  to 
get  you  in  the  cell,  you  well  know.  He  knows  you  have  been 
paid  by  the  railroad,  &c.  Bothwell  is  after  money,  or  I 
should  not  be  here."  He  still  demanding  my  release,  I  said  : 
"  Go  home  ;  don't  let  Bothwell  get  your  money.  Bemember, 
Moses,  what  Mr.  Leach  says  about  Bothwell,  deficient  some 
$700  to  $300  in  some  store,  for  which  no  account  can  be  ren- 
dered. Bemember  Leach  says  he  would  not  trust  him  long 
enough  to  turn  round,  and  every  word  of  Leach  is  truth. 
Don't  let  Bothwell  get  your  money." 


122 

The  two-legged  bloodhounds  gathered  thick  and  fast. 
The  boy  who  stole  my  watch  shouted :  "  You  are  looked  up 
iustead  of  me."  Sherman  soon  appearing  that  had  my  hay, 
not  purposing  to  pay  for  it  before  he  cut  it,  as  I  can  plainly 
prove,  laughing,  running  out  his  tongue,  being  of  fearful 
phisiognumy  by  nature ;  his  son's  mouth  also  stretched 
with  laughter.  One-third  of  that  crowd  would  have  been 
glad  to  have  shouted  long  and  loud.  There  were  boys  and 
girls,  who  had  been  my  scholars,  in  tears  falling  fast.  But 
there  were  young  men  of  the  Christian  Association,  such  as 
Frank  Bartlett,  George  Lincoln,  as  they  were  looking  in  the 
cell,  and  others,  who  would  have  stayed  me  in  there  till  I 
died  before  any  effort  of  theirs,  I  fully  believe,  because  I 
would  not  countenance  the  fraud  of  their  proceedings. 

In  vain  I  called  for  help  to  release  me  from  my  false  im- 
prisonment. First,  I  had  not  committed  any  offence  but 
what  was  my  legal  right;  secondly,  I  was  upon  my  own  land 
in  performance  of  my  urgent  necessary  labor,  and  was  being 
stopped  in  the  performance  thereof  by  said  crowd,  who  had 
halted  there  purposely  (a  plot  evidently  arranged  by  the 
railroad  men,  J.  Duncan  and  masons,  before  knowing  I  was 
working  there).  Had  it  not  been  thus,  all  the  teams  at 
that  parade  (for  such  only  could  it  truthfully  be  called)  could 
have  been  tied  to  the  posts  owned  by  the  town  for  that  pur- 
pose. And  so  far  as  rnj'self  was  concerned,  I  should  have 
as  soon  stooped  and  paid  obeisance  to'  a  drove  of  hogs,  my 
sensitive  nature  having  been  previously  trampled  and  out- 
raged in  the  most  atrocious  manner  by  said  Bates  and 
Duncan,  both  those  parties  having  been  forbidden,  long 
before  this,  ever  to  speak  to  me  or  step  upon  my  real 
estate  of  which  I  am  legally  seized,  or  lay  hands  upon  its 
boundary  of  which  I  am  entitled.  I  will  say  here,  for  the 
appalling,  ignominious  crime  which  said  James  Duncau  had 
committed  against  me,  the  prison  walls  would  be  his  boun- 
dary if  it  were  not  for  his  money  shielding  him ;  and  his 
thousands  have  been  in  part  gained  through  dishonest 
traffic. 

The  last  time  Bates  spoke  to  me,  except  the  27th  of  May 
alluded  to,  he  told  me  the  "  commissioners  had  offered  me  ten 


123 

times  as  much  as  my  land  was  worth,  but  you  want  to  light, 
and  fight  yon  will,  till  you  won't  have  a  cent  to  buy  grub 
with."  That  Bates,  who  has  through  the  violations  of  the 
statutes,  taken  my  property,  of  great  value  to  me,  and  thus 
making  said  property  a  sinking  fund  for  his  wealth  and  a  few 
others.  Still  defiantly  taking  possession  of  my  entrance  upon 
my  land,  still  making  me  extra  steps  and  renewed  lacerations 
of  my  sensitive  nature ;  and  more  still  he  has  done  his  ut- 
most to  prevent  my  reporting  for  papers,  &c. — and  we  never 
speak.  But,  readers,  you  see,  he  and  Duncan  are  going  to 
do  with  my  property  as  they  wish — law  or  no  law.  We  are 
making  the  money,  which  will  save  our  necks  from  any  evil 
we  may  do,  even  if  the  defendant  was  spotless  of  sin,  as 
the  blood  of  the  Lamb.  Back  to  the  felon's  cell,  in  which  I 
am  incarcerated  by  ruffianly  design  of  long  purpose  in  some 
way  or  other,  to  end  me,  as  my  knowledge  of  their  illegal 
proceedings,  scrutiny  of  which  is  dangerous  to  their  pockets 
and  official  wires,  if,  perchance,  law  should  ever  be  vindi- 
cated. I  still  demanded  my  release,  as  my  situation  was 
such  at  that  time,  doubly  imperilling  my  health,  if  not 
speedy  death.  Bothwell  replying,  "  Nobody  cares  whether 
you  are  sick,  die,  or  not." 

"  What  Christians  you  are  in  this  midst.  Bothwell,  remem- 
ber every  word  ;  it's  truth  shall  be  in  print."  Bothwell :  "  I 
thought  you  were  just  going  to  die  here."  "Perchance  my 
life  may  be  prolonged,  sir,  to  spread  this  appalling  crime  you 
are  committing  from  pole  to  pole.  And  the  citizens  of  this 
town  are  permitting  me  to  remain  in  this  filthy  cell.  There 
are  meeting  houses  within  a  stone's  throw,  and  churchmen 
constantly  passing,  knowing  I  am  here  without  warrant,  with- 
out crime."  Willie  Stoddard  shouting,  "  Don't  you  let  her 
out ;  keep  her  there,"  Sec.  Charles  Stoddard  and  some  others 
looking  into  the  cell,  I  asked  them  to  go  to  Father  Walsh,  and 
tell  him  the  proceedings.  Some  one  says,  "Write  and  I  will 
carry  it,"  Arc. ;  Bothwell  saying,  "It  is  high  time  you  had  a 
Catholic  praying  for  you."  "  I  certainly  shall  ask  no  one  to 
pray  for  me — that  is  my  prerogative  you  have  no  power 
over,  nor  any  one  else."  Bothwell  passed  out,  soon  return- 
ing with   ink  and  paper,   saying,  "  Write  to  your  priest." 


124 

Father  Walsh,  I  have  reason  to  believe,  from  what  I  have 
seen  of  him,  is  a  man  of  unimpeachable  character.  Would 
to  God  Ave  had  more  in  our  midst. 

I  wrote  my  note,  said  Charles  Stoddard  carrying  it  and 
bringing  back  a  verbal  reply.    My  brother  and  another  man, 
in  a  carriage,  came  and  demanded  my  release  from  that  cell, 
in  the  name  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts.    .Both- 
well  told  him  if  he  repeated  it  he  would  put  him  in  the  lock- 
up.    The  man  with  my  brother,  getting  out  of  the  carriage, 
demanded  my  release  also,  Bothwell  threatening  him  with  a 
lodging  in  the  lock-up  too.     Readers,  do  you  see  how  that 
ring  were  playing  their  cards?     I  shouted  to  my  brother 
from  the  cell,  in  my  utmost  screech,  "  Moses,  I  beseech  of 
you  go  home — I  thank  you,  I  thank  you — you  cannot  effect 
anything ;  don't  stay  any  longer ;   Bothwell  will  have  you 
and  3'oar  money  if  you  are  thrust  into  the  cell,"  &c.     Both- 
well  comes  in,  saying,  "  I'm  going  to  gag  you.     The  crowd 
told  me  to  go  the  whole  figure,  now  I  have  got  you."     "  You 
can  put  your  gag  on  at  the  earliest  moment  you  choose. 
But,  sir,  God's  time  for  your  reward,  for  this  illegal  bru- 
tality, will  come.     Not  a  slave  driver  in  the  Southern  Con- 
federacy ever  committed  so  heinous  a  crime  as  this  }Tou  and 
your  ring  are  committing  against  me,  without  a  cause,  but 
a  diabolical  plot  of  Duncan,  Bates,  masons  and    the  rail- 
road thieves.     I  ought  to  have  inserted  that  Bothwell  built 
a  fire  in  the  stove  at  the  time  of  bringing  paper  and  ink,  let- 
ting me  out  of  the  cell  into  the  larger  room,  where  I  told  all 
the  children  to  remember  me  there  in  that  cell  without  crime 
or  cause.    Innocent  like  Christ,  who  was  crucified  by  a  simi- 
lar mob,  and  as  Christ  was  innocent,  even  so  am  I.     Telling 
them  to  remember  just  how  I  looked,  what  I  said,  and  to  be 
telling  the  same  in  every  different  place  they  are  in,  that  this 
outrage  may  spread  from  pole  to  pole.  "  Remember,  children, 
what  I  say  to  you  here  in  this  felon's  cell,  tell  it  to  your 
fathers,  and  to  your  children,  and  your  children's   children 
to  the  third   and  fourth  generations."     Bothwell  coming  in, 
telling  me  to  "  dry  up,  or  you  will  go  back  to  narrower  quar- 
ters."    My  brother  at  the  window  in  tears,  demanding  again 
my  release.     Bothwell  rushing  for  him,  the  crowd  closed 


125 

around  him,  and  thus  tliat  foul  fiend  was  kept  at  bay,  from 
putting  his  paws  upon  my  brother.  I  said,  "  Do  go  home, 
let  not  that  vile  devil  put  his  paw  on  you  again."  Others 
seeing  my  earnest  desire,  urged  him  also.  Readers,  my 
brother  had  not  the  force  to  do  what  he  demanded.  Had 
I  been  in  my  brother's  place,  and  my  brother  in  the  cell, 
brought  there  for  the  same  reason,  without  warrant,  without 
cause  !  ! !  female,  as  I  am,  I  should  not  have  left  that  spot 
without  his  release,  and  had  I  been  thwarted  (as  my  brother) 
then  and  there,  that  spot  would  have  been  made  memorable. 
For  Both  well,  or  I,  would  have  been  numbered  with  the  con- 
gregation of  the  dead.  But  that  mysterious  Providence  of 
Almighty  God,  made  me  the  victim  of  these  money  crazed 
devils,  as  Christ  was  victimized  hundreds  of  years  ago. 
There  are  so  few  men  to  be  found  to-day  that  dare  oppose 
or  espouse  any  cause  if  it  is  going  to  affect  their  purse  to 
disadvantage,  no  matter  how  just,  unless  said  cause  can  make 
a  party  and  give  them  an  office. 

And,  reader,  where,  oh  where  can  be  found  one  who 
would  not  equal  contemptible  Peter,  who  denied  his  Master, 
ere  the  cock  crew  thrice,  &c. 

The  street  lamps  are  burning.  In  the  felon's  cell,  Both  well 
brings  in  a  soot  black  lantern  and  stands  it  upon  the  floor, 

and  says  to  me  "You  keep  your  d d  blab  goirjg  and  keep 

this  mob  here,  or  ycu'd  been  over  to  Jenks  and  home." 
"  Over  to  Jenks,  what  do  you  mean  by  that"  ?  Both  well : "  Dry 
up,  you  will  be  in  the  narrow  corner.  Not  another  word." 
So  low  and  menacing,  the  fiend  from  the  lower  regions  {they 
tell  about)  must  have  stood  aghast  at  thus  being  excelled. 
Charles  Stoddard,  nodding  me  to  the  window,  in  low  tone 
tells  me,  "Don't  speak,  they  are  going  to  let  you  out  v. hen 
the  stores,  &c.,  are  shut  up."  Gladly  indeed,  my  tongue  was 
silent.  Bothwell  going  in  at  spaces  between  the  cells,  I 
will  here  soy  during  the  afternoon  of  my  imprisonment, 
some  prominent  churchmen  and  women  looked  on  to  rest, 
and  have  joy  of  the  same,  1  suppose — such  as  Thomas  Suell, 
Rev.  Hewes,  Deacon  Nutting  (known  as  key-hole  Nutting), 
said  Deacon  being  the  one  who,  through  said  key-hole,  crimi- 
nated Rev.  Waldo  with  Persis  Tuttle,  of  the  Union  Congre- 


12G 

gational  Church  notoriety,  bringing  contumely  upon  the 
ministry  forever,  bonum  magnum  Nye  and  daughter,  she 
being  very  diminutive  as  well  as  her  father  in  stature,  and  far 
more  diminutive  both  of  them  in  the  attribute  that  is  of  God. 
Such  expressed  eyes  as  she  glanced  into  the  cell,  spoke  .so 
loud  her  thoughts,  and  it  brought  her  vividly  before  me.  in 
the  school  room  (primary  department,  none  other,  and  for 
this  never  had  a  certificate  or  examination;  her  own  words  to 
me),  inflicting  blows  upon  a  fat  sunny  face  (Frank  De 
Land),  with  such  velocity  as  to  leave  visible  marks  for 
more  than  a  week,  the  marks  of  her  fingers.  Mrs.  De  Land 
has  told  that  wrong  to  me,  scores  of  times,  and  Mary  Nye 
her  sister  ;  report  has  it,  the  ruler  is  still  to  be  seen  with 
blood  and  hair  dried  upon  it,  with  which  she  too  inflicted 
blows  upon  the  head  of  a  helpless  boy,  the  boy  grabbing  the 
ruler  and  escaping  the  school-room  with  the  same. 

The  last  act  was  committed  in  District  No.  1,  North 
Brookfield,  Mass.,  and  the  first  one  in  No.  2.  About 
10  p.  m.  the  streets  are  clear ;  previously  no  one  in 
sight.  G.  C.  Lincoln  passes,  halts,  does  not  come  up  to  the 
window,  for  there  I  stood  in  the  dark  ;  he  soon  moves,  for 
fifteen  rods  more  will  bring  him  in  Dr.  Tyler's  office,  where 
the  masons  can  secrete  (the  doctor  having  passed  the  cell  in 
the  road,  looking  straight  to  his  furious  steed). 

All  is  quiet  in  front  of  the  cell.  Notorious  John  Hebard 
and  Bothwell  came  into  the  cell,  Both  well  having  a  blanket 
and  Hebard  a  buffalo,  both  in  broad  laugh,  Bothwell  saying, 
"  knowing  you   are    a   clean   devil,    I   bring  you   a   clean 

buffalo."      Hebard  :  "  Ha  !   he  did   this  d d  nice."      I 

screeched  as  loud  as  my  voice  could  ring  for  help.  "You 
cannot  leave  me  thus  endangered,  without  defence,  with 
these  two  men,  and  Hebard's  known  additional  trait.  I  said 
to  Hebard,  "  I  am  not  in  this  felon's  cell  as  a  criminal,  but 
by  the  malicious  designs  of  men."  "  That's  a  d — n  great 
get  up.  I  have  come  in  here  purpose  to  see  you  here,  that 
I  can — ha  !  ha  !  and  tell  of  you  wherever  I  am."  "  Tell,  sir, 
of  my  innocence, — of  this  fearful,  loathsome  den."  Hebard  : 
"  God,  you   are  d d  innocent."      "  Sir,  if  justice   was 


127 

meted  out  to  you,  as  report  Las  it,  heaven  is  my  witness  (I 
know  nothing  of  your  guilt  but  your  presence),  you,  sir,  with 
said  milliner,  as  current  report  has  it,  would  long  since  be 
in  prison  Trom  violation  of  God's  law  as  well  as  man's." 
Hebard:  "Well,  you  would  have  been  in   hell   with  your 

d d  back  broke.     I  wish  to  God  I  could  have  the  chance 

of  breaking  it  and  chucking  you  down." 

I  still  screech  for  help  to  rescue  me  from  thieves  saying, 
"Even  as  Christ  hung  upon  the  cross  between  two  thieves 
eighteen  hundred  years  ngo,  to-night  in  the  nineteenth  cen- 
tury, I  stand  between  two  thieves  as  innocent  of  crime  as 
that  Saviour  upon  the  cross.  Bothwell  coming  back  of  meas 
you  would  drive  a  dumb  beast  into  a  stable,  saying,  "  You  go 
into  your  bed."  "  You  are  not  goiug  to  shut  me  in  that  cell 
tonight?  I  must  go  home."  Bothwell:  "You  won't  go  home." 
"  I  tell  you,  sir,  the  foul  fiend  from  the  bottomless  pit  would 
not  be  so  insolent  and  audacious.  You  have  me  Here  with- 
out warrant,  without  cause,  and  I  demand  you  no  longer 
break  the  law  of  God  and  man."  Bothwell  takes  out  a 
paper,  saying  it's  a  warrant  and  he  will  read  it  \l  I  say. 
"  When  was  it  made  out  ?  "  "  This  evening."  "  What  is  it 
made  out  for?"  Bothwell:  "For  your  disturbing  the 
peace."  "  It  is  you,  and  you  alone,  with  your  called  com- 
rades, that  have  disturbed  the  peace,  because  I  did  not 
surrender  my  property,  my  individuality,  seating  myself  in 
the  imbecile's  chair  for  you  to  move,  and  step  upon  as  the 
circumstances  of  the  ring  may  demand."  Hebard:  "You're 
a  d — d  good  horse  block."  Bothwell :  "  1  tell  you,  go  in  that 
ceD."  "  I  go,  sir,  if  you  dare  drive  me  in  there."  Both- 
well  :  "  D — n  you,  I  do  dare — "  I  advancing  in  the  door  of 
the  cell,  when  both  men  put  their  hands  with  force  upon 
iny  back,  sending  me  to  the  further  end  of  the  cell.  The 
cell  is  locked.  Hebard  :  "  Pleasant  dreams  all  night — it's 
too  d — d  good  a  sight  to  leave."  Both,  in  high  glee,  gone 
out. 

Soon  Bothwell  comes  in,  and  asks  me  if  I  want  anything 
to  eat — a  cup  of  tea?  "  I  wish,  sir,  to  go  home,  and  change 
my  clothes,  and  rest  upon  my  own  clean  couch."     "  You 


128 

won't ;  say,  do  you  want  a  cup  of  tea?"  "No ;  I  wish  some  ice 
water."  "  You  can't  have  it.  I'll  get  you  a  cup  of  tea"  —  at  the 
same  time  shuts  the  sky-light.  I  beg  of  him  not  to,  in  vain. 
He  is  out — gone.  My  throat  at  that  moment  was  parching. 
Since  my  diphtheria  sickness,  in  1S64,  I  have  suffered  -with 
dry  mouth  and  throat  ;  and,  having  talked  much,  and  some 
of  the  time  loud,  in  the  cell,  to  make  those  without  hear  me, 
had  added  to  my  suffering  thirst.  Often  in  my  rheumatic 
sickness,  there  is  no  moisture  in  my  tongue,  and  in  my  best 
health,  I  am  often  obliged  to  drink  with  every  mouthful  of 
food.  Imagine  me  without  food  or  drink,  but  one  glass  of 
water  since  11  o'clock,  a.  m.  My  sufferings  from  thirst  alone, 
were  fearful.  I  stood  in  the  felon's  cell,  both  hands  on  the 
middle  bar,  leaning  first  one  shoulder  then  the  other,  against 
the  bars — the  rheumatic  pains  sharp  and  pieroing — watch- 
ing the  dim  light  from  the  street  lamp  ;  and,  as  the  town 
clock  struck  from  time  to  time,  the  only  society  except  for 
Duncan  and  Hebard  stable,  and  when  hearing  parties  in 
said  place.  Also,  as  I  thought,  in  BurrhTs  furniture  estab- 
lishment, Burrill  and  Charles  Duncan  seeing  me  many  times 
in  the  cell,  Burrill's  daughter  having  been  my  scholar, 
Charles  Duncan  having  upon  his  parlor  table  a  valuable 
Bible  given  him  by  Sabbath  School,  in  186G,  I  should  think, 
towards  which.  I  gave  seventy-five  cents  of  earnings  sewing 
that  I  could  not  earn  three  cents  per  hour,  and  my  son 
Lloyd  contributing  twenty-five  cents  towards  the  same,  his 
earned  equally  laboriously.  You  will  remember,  readers, 
my  saying  my  husband  opposed  me  in  this,  and  no  aid 
could  I  have  from  him.  And  I  thought  I  was  right,  and 
doing  God's  will,  Lloyd  helping  with  willing  alacrity,  giving 
of  his  hard  earnings  as  freely  as  water  runs  down  hill.  Thus 
those  very  churchmen  were  walking  by  without  one  word 
said  for  my  relief,  but  were,  without  doubt,  as  glad  as  He- 
bard and  Both  well,  but  had  more  sense  than  to  make  them- 
selves hideous.  Perchance,  a  human  soul  within  the  cell 
might  bear  witness.  About  2  o'clock  in  the  morning  my 
thirst  and  suffering  was  so  great  that  it  seemed  as  if  death 
would  end  my  sufferings  before  daybreak.  On  the  first  step 
upon  the  walk  in  front  of  the  cell  was  a  man  with  a  lantern. 


129 

I  tried  to  call,  but  I  could  not  speak  loud.  My  hand  had 
not  let  go  its  grip  upon  the  iron  bar,  and  I  believe  had 
death  come  in  that  awful  hour,  my  hand  would  have  been 
clinched  tight  to  the  bar.  About  5  a.m.,  Bothwell  came  in 
and  unlocked  the  cell,  saying,  "Go  home."  I  could  not  move 
but  with  the  greatest  effort,  Bothwell  saying,  "  I  will  get  a 
team  for  you."  I  said  :  "  No,  walking  will  be  best,"  he  giving 
me  his  arm  for  support ;  wo  thus  left  that  awful 
stench  cell.  On  the  street  we  met  Burnett  and  across  the 
street  was  Kibby.  I  have  omitted  one  important  point. 
Morse,  my  man,  came  to  the  cell  in  the  evening,  bringing  me 
a  shawl  and  the  keys  to  my  house.  His  agony  was  intense. 
Bothwell  took  the  keys,  saying  he  would  put  them  in  his 
watch  pocket.  Chas.  Stoddard,  being  at  the  prison  window 
at  the  time,  told  me  I  was  going  home.  I  did  not  object  to 
his  keeping  my  keys,  aud  when  he  left  me  next  P.  M.,  he  said 
he  was  going  after  a  cup  of  tea  for  me.  I  supposed 
he  meant  what  he  said.  He  did  not  return  with  the  tea. 
My  home  was  some  fifty  rods  from  the  lock-up.  On 
reaching  home  he  unlocked  the  door ;  I  went  in,  and 
Bothwell  returning.  I  passed  up  stairs,  thinking  for  the 
first  time  of  his  (Ernest's)  shawl,  still  on  my  shoulder. 
I  opened  my  front  door,  calling  him  back  to  take  the  shawl. 
Bothwell  came  back  saying :  "  I  forgot  to  tell  you  J  shall  be 
down  after  you  to  go  before  Jenks  ;  you  keep  this  shawl 
till  all  is  finished  up."  "  What,  I  can't  go  up ;  you  can't  take 
me  there,  nor  fool  me  any  longer  ;  I  have  suffered  enough, 
and  I  must  take  to  my  bed."  Bothwell  :  "  I'll  come  down 
toward  night ;  jou  keep  the  shawl."  "  I'd  rather  you  would 
take  it  now,  as  the  smell  of  that  loathsome  cell  is  in  my 
clothes.  I  shall  go  into  the  barn  to  remove  them."  Both- 
well  said  :  "You  keep  the  shawl,"  &c,  and  was  gone.  I 
go  back  to  the  kitchen,  remove  said  clothes  and  take  a 
regular  bath  in  wormwood,  my  body  and  limbs  a  sight  to 
behold  from  the  bruises  upon  my  bowels  and  hip ;  his 
marks  upon  my  arms,  and  my  left  limb  spoke  plainly  of  the 
fearful  abuse  I  had  received  from  his  hands — assaults,  and 
from  his  foot  and  knee.      I  have  seen  men  throw  down  a 


130 

dumb  beast,  and  not  the  brutality  ed  toward  them  as  he 
dealt  out  to  .me. 

In  getting  my  clean  apparel  I  fo  d  my  $450,  that  was 
placed  in  that  drawer,  lying  in  full  view — the  $100  bill,  $50, 
one  package  of  $100  not  broken  op<m  ;  the  $100  in  $10  bills 
had  been  torn  asunder  and  $70  taken. 

I  had  paid  J.  B.  Lawrence  &  Co.  $110  for  a  black  walnut 
set,  placed  in  my  sleeping  room,  the  week  previous,  taking 
only  $100  from  said  package.  Said  money  I  had  drawn 
from  savings  banks  spoken  of  before,  one  of  the  firm  of 
J.  H.  Clark's  store  in  Worcester  being  witness  to  the  same. 
Said  money  was  to  be  used  in  making  repairs,  &c.  Thus, 
my  lock-up  had  cost  me,  by  being  stolen,  $70,  besides  the 
unparalleled  abuse  and  outrage  of  the  law. 

Bothwell  had  my  keys  with  him  during  the  night.  My 
doors  had  been  open  from  7  to  11  a.  m.  But  it  must  be 
evident  that  any  thief,  to  have  entered  in  the  morning, 
would  not  have  divided  the  spoils.  No,  reader  ;  an  old 
hand  at  the  business  performed  that  job,  I  think,  in  the 
night.  "  If  Mrs.  Hill  misses  it,  we  can  say  she  has  lost  it," 
and  so  on — their  old  way  of  talking  against  truth,  immu- 
table as  God  himself.  I  dressed  for  "Worcester  instead  of 
the  bed,  having  the  appearance  of  a  corpse  mangled  by  a 
ruffian,  and  breathing  again  as  if  in  defiance  of  death.  My 
brother's  presence  added  force  to  the  new  lease  of  life. 
"  Bring,  Moses,  the  first  instant  you  can,  a  team,  and  take 
me  to  Worcester."  "  I  will  do  what  I  can."  Off  he  goes.  I 
bathe  my  limbs  again  in  wormwood,  my  head,  also  my 
shoulders,  and  I  am  just  barely  able  to  move  about.  Time 
is  money.  He  comes.  I'm  off;  and  in  front  of  the  home- 
stead  we  meet  that  wonderful  nephew  and  sister  of  primary 
education,  and  teacher — all  her  knowledge  being  confined  to 
North  Brookfield's  school  and  ball-room.  Willie  hastens  to 
Bothwell,  as  report  has  it,  and  reports  that  Tyler  was  carry- 
ing Mrs.  Hill  off,  &c.  My  brother,  meeting  a  man  with  fleet 
horses  and  buggy,  asked  him  to  take  me  to  Worcester ;  said 
man  was  going  to  N.  B.  on  business  ;  I  turned,  saying  : 
"  Whatever  you  ask  to  take  me  shall  be  paid."  He  told 
me,  and  I  paid  him.     I  had  not  been  in  his  buggy  but  a 


131 

few  minutes  when  I  slept ;  he  held  ine  with  his  arm  around 
me.  I  told  him  my  short  story  in  his  buggy.  He  said : 
"  Why  wasn't  that  Bothwell  killed,  and  stopped  ?  "  "  It,  sir, 
would  only  have  been  justice."  In  about  two  and  a  half 
hours  I  was  at  Friendly  Inn.  I  went  (after  eating  some 
refreshments)  into  a  lawyer's  office,  then  to  two  other  legal 
parties,  showing  my  bruises,  <fcc. 

The  counsel  did  not  comply  with  older  wisdom  and  my 
wish,  but  so  and  so.  I  was  too  weak  and  suffering  to  argue, 
but  had  new  distress  at  his  not  doing  as  required.  And  I 
believe  the  train  from  North  Brookfield  had  a  passenger 
that  had  informed  said  counsel  of  the  breach  in  the  law,  &c, 
telling  him  to  do  his  best  for  their  protection  by  staving  off, 
and  the  after  proceedings  proved  it  to  a  demonstration  in 
my  mind.  Home  again,  so  nice,  so  quiet  and  pure — and 
those  little  angel  whispers,  so  sacred  in  this  hour  ;  no  mortal 
tongue  can  assuage  grief  like  those  angel  boys.  I  bathe  in 
wormwood,  in  clean  apparel;  my  rich  couch  has  my  bruised 
form. 

This  morning,  about  nine,  I  am  at  breakfast  table.  Both- 
well  comes  in.  "  I've  come  for  you  to  go  up  to  Jenks,"  &c. 
"I  protest,  sir."  B.  says  :  "You  have  got  to  go  up,"  &c. 
"I  go  with  }Tou  only  to  avoid  a  scene.  I  protest  against  it, 
remember,"  <fcc.  Bothwell  appoints  the  time,  2  P.  M.  Leaves. 
Soon  he  returns,  saying,  "Jenks  wants  to  go  to  the  Democratic 
Convention,  and  he  thinks  you  better  have  counsel  and  have 
it  hushed  up.  No  one  shall  come  into  his  office  except  wit- 
ness," &o.  Gone  again.  I  am  off  again  to  Worcester  for 
said  counsel ;  too  weak  to  use  my  own  judgment.  He 
thinks  so  and  so,  "but  you  do  as  you  please."  I  demand  the 
action  brought  on  my  part.  "Oh,  that  will  keep  as  it  is.  And 
it  will  be  kept  from  his  handling."  He  takes  fifteen  dollars — 
will  be  up  at  ten  o'clock  a.  m.  to-morrow.  My  man  is  at  the 
depot  with  carriage  ;  takes  the  legal  man,  brings  him  to  my 
house.  We  drive  to  the  grounds ;  back  to  Jenks'  office. 
Had  it  not  been  for  Bothwell's  promise  that  no  one  but  so 
and  so,  I  would  not  have  appeared  before  Jenks  any  other 
way  than  to  waive  examination,  knowing  his  eveiy  trait  as 
familiarly   as   the   alphabet.     A   schoolmate   boarding   one 


132 

winter  at  his  home,  when  teaching  in  our  home  district, 
18t57-8.  But  thus  doomed  to  have  lie  upon  lie,  lie  upon  lie, 
to  take  me  this  way,  that,  and  the  other.  Jenks'  office  was 
packed.  J.  Duncan  with  his  vile,  lusty  face,  with  fiendish 
grin.  I  immediately  explain  his  profile  to  said  counsel.  He 
withdraws  suddenly,  though  his  name  was  offered  as  a  wit- 
ness. The  imps  of  hell  cannot  exceed  that  man  in  lying,  as 
he  has  falsified  against  me,  and  that  lying  to  cover  the  vile 
life  he  has  led.  Many  say,  be  careful,  be  careful,  when  I 
have  been  held  as  a  States  prison  convibt  without  one  parti- 
cle of  anything  to  lay  to  my  charge,  but  my  knowing  how 
his  wife  and  he  quarreled  about  women,  and  my  living  with 
them  in  the  same  house ;  it  could  not  well  be  otherwise — 
and  family  school  teacher.  What  I  have  ever  said  I  still  say, 
it's  God's  truth,  and  the  party  who  burned  his  building 
could  have  been  proven  plain  as  noonday  in  my  opinion. 

Reader,  this  book  is  in  part  to  speak  of  this  in  print  to 
live  when  I  am  in  the  grave,  as  no  justice  was  given  me 
in  court — this  court  costing  me  some  $G00  more  than  I  re- 
ceived back — and  had  it  not  been  for  a  man  on  the  jury  from 
North  Brookfield  of  Jane  Dale  and  Duncan  notoriety,  the 
pittance  allowed  would  have  been  more. 

Bad  witness  for  Bothwell,  &c,  but  a  good  one  to  spread  a 
vile  lie.  Said  Duncan  and  Bates  were  talking  and  laugh- 
ing uproariously  during  the  time  the  farce  court  was  pending 
in  Chas.  Duncan's  store,  Bates'  brother  not  being  under  the 
sod  tvvo  days. 

Both  well's  testimony  alone,  every  word  he  uttered,  the 
way  thereof  misrepresenting,  giving  the  lie  to  what  ought  to 
have  been  told  in  truth,  and  I  tell  it  in  truth. 

Hiram  Bartlett  making  himself  perfectly  ridiculous,  idiotic 
almost,  in  thus  trying  to  injure  me  and  help  said  Bothwell. 
The  lawyer  was  unable  to  get  one  sentence  from  Bartlett. 
"He  heard  my  voice  three  or  four  times,  &c."    Once  he  heard 

*'  gambler,"  once  "  grave,"  once  "d n."     Not  one  sentence 

could  be  brought  out.  "  He  only  knew  I  was  disturbing  the 
funeral,  &c."     Esq.:  ""What  else  did  you  hear  that  made 

you  know  ?  "     B.  :  "  Heard  me  say  d n  distinctly."  Esq. : 

"  You  call  that  swearing  ?"     B. :  "  Yes,  sir."     Esq. :  "  That's 


133 

all?  "  B.  •  "  Tes  ;  I  could  not  distinguish  ;  I  heard  grave, 
clear."  Esq. :  "  Then  you  think  Mrs.  Hill  was  swearing  like 
a  pirate  ?  "  B.  :  "  Yes."  Esq.  :  "  How  long  have  you 
known  Mrs.  Hill?  "  B.  :  "  Always."  Esq.  :  "  Did  you  ever 
hear  her  swear  before  ?  "  B.  :  "  No,  sir."  Esq. :  "  Mrs. 
Hill  was  on  her  own  land  at  the  farm  ?"     B. :  "  Yes."     Esq.  : 

"  You  think  '  gambler,'  '  grave,'  and  '  d n  '  were  heard  at 

different  times,  as  you  state,  is  enough  for  you  to  affirm  she 
swore  like  a  pirate?"  B.  :  "Yes."  Esq.:  "Questioned 
every  way  and  not  une  answer  that  could  be  made  into  tes- 
timony." Esq.  says,  "  There  is  nothing  more,  sir,  as  you 
are  evidently  laboring  under  some  infirmity — sickness  or 
imbecility,  or  some  perverse  freak  dethroning  reason,  judge, 
nothing  more,"  &c. 

Beader,  that  man  wanted  a  deed  of  my  land,  thus  to  secure 
me  against  J.  Duncan's  vile  proceedings.  I  told  B.  if  Duncan 
could  get  hold  of  my  land  through  his  rascality,  I  wished  to 
see  the  performance,  &c.  Bartlett  had  an  e}7e  to  the  seven 
and  a  half  acre  plot,  and  could  not  get  it.  Bartlett  had  told 
me  sundry  things  about  those  J.  and  C.  Duncan's.  I  sum- 
moned him  to  court.  In  ten  minutes  after  summons  he 
was  at  my  house,  with  his  eyes  glaring.  "  What  did  you 
summon  me  to  court  for  ?  "  "  To  tell  sir,  that  you  rehearsed 
to  me  the  other  day."  B.  :  "I  shan't  go  one  inch,  and  make 
me  lose  business."  "  You  need  not,  sir,  and  you  will 
please  never  speak  to  me  again  on  earth.  But  ever  remem- 
ber the  hard  work  I  have  done  for  you  in  your  poverty,  and 
had  it  not  been  for  my  father's  house,  and  Dr.  Tyler's,  and 
with  m}r  own  timely  aid,  you  would  have  been  carrying  a 
saw-horse  and  ax,  instead  of  pulling  teeth."  And  now  for 
an  incident  of  this  H.  P.  Bartlett  when  a  boy  some  four 
years  of  age.  I  was  playing  school  in  my  father's  great 
kitchen,  my  brother  Albert  and  said  Bartlett  scholars.  For 
seats  my  brother's  little  chair,  a  very  large  pumpkin,  a  \ery 
large,  crooked  neck  squash.  Calling  the  lads  up  to  the  desk 
to  give  me  their  names,  Bartlett,  the  youngest,  pushes  ahead 
of  Albert,  rapidly  saying,  as  if  afraid  he  would  not  get  his 
name  in  first :  "  Pierce  Bartlett  Hiram."  Albert  bursting 
out  in  a  loud  "  ha,  ha !  "     Thus,  some  time  before  exercises 


134 

were  in  order,  with  book  in  hand  H.  P.  B.  rises,  goes  to  Al- 
bert and  demands,  "  Me  have  chair  !"  Albert  says,  "  Why, 
I  am  oldest,  Me  have  chair !  "  I  said,  "Albert,  let  the  moth- 
erless boy  have  the  chair."  Albert  rose  and  sat  on  the 
pumpkin.  Not  one  minute  after  H.  P.  B.  was  at  that  seat 
— "  Me  have  pumpkin."  Albert  rose,  laughingly,  and  sat  on 
the  squash,  and  with  q-ick  time  H.  P.  B.  :  "  Me  have  squash, 
too."  Reader,  the  child  is  the  father  of  the  man.  And  the 
three  words  at  different  times  may  have  something  beside 
grammatical  relation,  &c. 

To  show  more  fully  some  incidents  in  said  Bartlett's  life 
when  in  his  teens.  C.  E.  Jenks,  now  trial  justice,  by  two 
recommendations  is  teaching  school  in  District  No.  1  in 
North  Brookfield,  Mass.  In  said  school  were  children  from 
the  Bates,  W.  Hill,  and  Bartlett  families.  An  insurrection 
rose  in  its  midst,  when  Bates,  said  Bartlett  and  Hill,  &c, 
levelled  Charles  E.  Jenks,  carrying  him  out  of  the  school- 
room. Readers,  you  can  well  understand  those  three  names 
above  alluded  to,  who  were  going  to  have  their  say  and 
way  "  fair  or  foul"  !!! 

And  it  is  just  so  yet       *       *       *       *  *       * 

The  omnibus  driver  did  his  best  for  the  trespassing 
criminals,  but  failed  entirely  of  giving  any  testimony  of  any 
low  remarks  or  illegal  proceedings  as  alleged  by  the  criminal 
officer  who  had  caused  this  disgraceful  public  trial  and 
false  imprisonment  of  me  (Elizabeth  R.  Hill).  This  crime 
of  S.  Bothwell  was  more  damnable  in  my  heart  than  murder. 
And  his  motive  and  all  those  concerned  was  and  were  to 
ruin  my  reputation,  thus  making  me  a  public  show,  to  sup- 
press my  influence  in  vindicating  the  law  and  statute  pro- 
ceedings in  which  I  have  been  drawn  by  their  illegal 
desires    and  proceedings  as  plaintiff,  and  they  defendants. 

Henry  Sampson  seeing  Bothwell's  proceedings  chanced  to 
hear  gambler,  grave,  &c,  God  and  his  angels,  curse  or  damn. 
Eqs.  D.  did  you  hear  anything  else?  I  saw  Bothwell, 
and  imagined,  &c.  Sampson  was  very  cute  and  very  near  a 
cypher.  John  Dewing  alone  giving  any  sensible  sense  and 
not  one  word  to  criminate.  Bothwell's  testimony  was  a 
fabrication  of  his  own  making,    of  which  his  whole  soul 


.35 


teems  with,  I  believe.  Counsel  asked  the  above  witnesses 
how  long  they  had  known  Mrs.  Hill,  &c  ?  Some  all  their 
lives,  others  thirty  years  or  more.  Counsel  :  Did  you  ever 
hear  Mrs.  Hill  use  profane  or  obscene  language  ?  Witness  : 
Never.  Counsel :  Mrs.  Hill  is  a  literary  lady,  so-called  ? 
Witness  :  She  writes  for  papers  ;  is  a  school  teacher  ;  I 
don't  know  as  she  ever  wrote  a  book.  Counsel :  Mrs.  Hill  is 
called  literary  ?  Witness  :  She  writes  and  teaches.  Coun- 
sel :  Don't  you  know  her,  and  is  she  not  known  to  have  the 
knowledge  and  command  of  three  or  live  times  the  vo- 
cabulary of  words  the  best  of  us  handle,  and  knows  just 
where  to  use  them  ?     Witness  :  I  know  she  has  knowledge. 

Not  one  witness  corroborated  Bothwell  in  his  statement, 
&c.  Many  others  in  that  procession  have  told  the  truth 
that  I  did  not  disturb  by  calling  to  the  further  bars  not  to 
hitch  to  the  same  as  they  were  much  nearer  to  me  than 
Bothwell  and  heard  nothing,  and  consider  the  treatment 
Bothwell  gave  me  as  uncalled  for,  cruel  and  outrageous. 

My  only  witness,  Robert  Morse.  Counsel :  You  are  un- 
der the  employ  of  Mrs.  E.  R.  Hill  ?  Witness  :  Yes,  sir. 
Counsel :  How  long?  Witness  :  I  helped  with  Mrs.  Ayres' 
span  and  mowing  machine,  &c,  to  get  her  hay  the  last  of 
June.  I  have  been  working  the  past  two  weeks  only  draw- 
ing a  few  loads  of  coal  as  Mrs.  Ayres  wished  during  the 
time.  Counsel :  You  were  at  work  at  the  time  Bothwell 
seized  her  on  her  own  land  in  the  performance  of  labor  in 
which  you  had  been  engaged  ?  Witness  :  Yes  sir.  Counsel : 
How  far  off  from  Mrs.  Hill?  Witness:  About  ten  rods. 
Counsel  :  Did  Mrs.  Hill  do  or  say  anything  to  disturb  or 
annoy  the  solemnity  of  a  funeral  procession  ?  Witness  : 
No,  sir.  Counsel :  Was  Mrs.  Hill  on  her  land  when  the 
procession  passed  ?  Witness  :  Mrs  Hill  had  been  working 
there  all  the  morning  and  had  gone  up  home  in  haste  to  lock 
her  doors  and  get  a  bed  cord  to  tie  back  a  tall  elm  tree  to 
straighten  it  up,  &c.  Counsel :  The  funeral  procession 
went  to  the  churchyard  while  she  was  gone  ?  Witness :  Yes, 
sir.  Counsel :  Was  Mrs.  Hill  gone  any  longer  than  you  ex- 
pected ?  Witness  :  Yes,  three  times  as  long  ;  she  said  she 
was  coming  straight  back,  else  I  would  not  get  through  in  front 


136 

of  the  house  till  she  carne  back,  as  Mrs.  Hill  was  going  to 
sort  the  limbs  for  sale  herself.  Counsel :  Where  did  you 
first  see  Mrs.  Hill  when  she  did  come  back  ?  Witness  :  In 
the  highway  in  front  of  where  I  was  cutting  a  walnut  tree. 
Counsel  :  State  what  she  said,  &c  ?  Witness :  She  told  mo 
not  to  cut  the  butt  of  the  trees  at  all,  but  come  and  help  me 
tie  back  the  tree  as  quick  as  you  have  the  branches  off. 
Counsel*:  You  had  cut  down  a  walnut  tree  during  her  ab- 
sence ?  Witness  :  Yes,  sir,  and  more  too.  Counsel :  Where 
did  Mrs.  Hill  go  ?  Witness  :  To  that  elm  tree  in  her  garden 
lot  where  she  was  piling  up  wood.  Counsel :  You  had 
not  started  to  go  and  tie  the  tree  back?  Witness  :  No,  sir, 
I  had  not  the  limbs  cut  off.  Counsel  :  Tell  what  you  heard 
next  ?  Witness :  I  heard  Mrs.  Hill  call  me  to  come  and 
help  her.  Counsel  :  I  saw  Bothwell  and  the  omnibus  driver 
carrying  her  out  of  her  garden  lot.  Counsel :  Did  Mrs. 
Hill  scream  ?  Witness  :  Yes,  sir.  Counsel :  What  did  you 
hear  her  say  ?  Witness  :  She  said,  "  God  and  his  angels 
forbid  such  outrageous  treatment.  Bothwell,  I  forbid  you 
carrying  me  off  my  l~nd  ;  you  have  no  cause,  no  warrant ;  a 
more  damnable  proceeding  than  this  never  blackened  the 
pages  of  history."  Counsel :  Did  you  ever  hear  Mrs.  Hill 
swear  ?  Witness  :  No,  sir.  Counsel :  How  is  it  about  work- 
ing for  her  ?  Witness :  I  never  worked  for  anyone  who 
treated  me  better ;  prompt  in  paying  my  wages ;  kind,  and 
careful  of  my  health,  &c.  Counsel :  Did  you  see  Mrs.  Hill 
in  the  cell  ?  I  carried  her  my  shawl  and  her  keys ;  I  saw 
all  I  could ;  it  was  terrible  to  me.  Counsel :  Do  you  know 
she  was  imprisoned  without  law  or  cause  ?     Witness  :  I  do. 

Mrs.  Hill's  Evidence. 

Counsel :  Mrs.  Hill,  state  your  case  in  full  ?  Mrs.  Hill :  I 
was  directing  and  working  as  usual,  with  Morse,  my  hired 
man,  the  day  of  the  funeral  alluded  to.  Hearing  that  it  was 
to  be  that  day,  I  made  great  exertion  in  work  to  remove 
brush  into  heaps  and  pack  cut  branches  to  give  neatness, 
for  perchance  a  stranger  may  be  in  the  midst  of  the  coming 
display,  and  hastening  work  I  had  long  before  desired  done. 
I  had  no  thought,  nor  passing  notice  of  the  proceeding  ("  it 


137 

was  none  of  niy  funerals"),  but  was  accomplishing  with  my 
might,  fearing  my  wood  cutting,  &c,  would  not  be  completed 
e'er  my  team  for  dragging  stone,  laying  wall,  &c,  would 
need  Morse  in  their  aid,  etc. ;  I  had  not  lost  one  moment, 
but  to  bring  to  pass,  except  to  answer  the  profound  queries 
of  nephew  Stoddard,  &c,  and  I  had  silenced  him  in  a  mea- 
sure (as  talking  and  physical  labor  are  not  unitable  in  my 
caliber),  by  informing  him,  that  he  should  be  my  guardian, 
if  I  could  be  permitted  to  choose,  &c,  and  then  he  could 
question  and  direct  as  "  seemeth  him  best."  When  I  came 
out  of  the  house  at  the  homestead,  to  go  home  for  cord  and 
shut  my  house,  I  should  not  have  noticed  who  was  in  that 
team  had  Duncan  not  turned  the  horse  in  my  face,  com- 
pelling me  to  jump  out  of  his  way,  &c.  ;  when  dressed  in 
farming  gear  it  is  my  practice  not  to  see  or  noiice  passers 
by.  Duncan's  movement  I  have  given  before  in  this  book, 
was  pre-arranged.  Bothwell's  carrying  me,  &c,  to  the 
prisoner's  cell,  was  planned  and  arranged  to  be  executed  in 
some  way  by  said  rings,  &c,  with  as  much  deliberation  as 
any  plot  of  iniquity  consummated  since  God  made  man! 
The  previous  mentioned  acts,  and  the  concluding  one  to 
be  given,  cannot  help  proving  to  the  candid  mind  the 
iniquitous  designs  of  those  two  legged,  moral  depraved,  and 
money  crazed  species  of  manhood.  I  find  I  have  omitted  a 
prominent  point.  I  solemnly  declare  that  I  did  not  speak 
in  any  way  to  disturb  the  funeral ;  furthermore,  had  that 
procession  been  anything  but  outside  show,  they  would  not 
have  seen  me  at  all.  I  did  not  move  a  horse,  nor  put  my 
hand  upon  horse  or  carriage  ;  I  merely  untied  the  hitching 
rein  at  the  post,  which  is  foot  passage,  between  post  and 
wall  when  not  thus  obstructed.  I  did  not  remove  the  rein 
from  post  hole.  Omnibus  driver  having  unhitched  the  horse 
at  the  other  post,  I  leaving  the  post  and  going  to  the  other. 
Stepping  upon  the  ends  of  the  bars  up  to  the  top  of  the  wall, 
&c,  then  seeing  my  other  bars  being  taken,  I  spoke,  telling 
them  not  to  hitch  there  ;  for  reasons  before  given  ;  they  not 
noticing,  I  repeated  louder,  to  be  heard  by  the  parties,  and 
not  loud  enough  to  be  heard  by  said  procession  in  the  grave 
yard.     I  had  not,  previously  to  the  burial,  nor  since,  stepped 


138 

toward,  nor  looked  at  said  spot  in  said  yard,  though  the 
most  sacred  of  all  places  ;  but  I  never  knew  of  a  public  place 
but  there  was  an  avoidable  spot  to  some  one,  and  such  spots 
to  me  I  notice  not,  I  turn  from  them,  and  turn  away.  The 
lies  told  of  and  about  me  in  this  affair  are  as  foul  as  hell, 
and  are  a  perfcet  type  of  the  character  of  those  who  pro- 
mulgate them,  and  they  spread  the  same  through  impish 
maliciousness. 

Counsel  argued  the  case  ably,  setting  forth  each  testimony 
in  its  true  light,  the  audience  manifesting  a  slight  applause 
by  clapping  and  stamping,  whereupon  Bothwell  rushed 
upon  his  feet  with  maniacal  authority,  saying,  I  command 
every  one  to  leave  the  hall  this  minute — I  command  every 
one  to  leave  this  hall !  But  the  court  objecting,  Bothwell  at 
the  same  time  taking  hold  of  one  and  another,  pushing  them 
along  out  of  the  hall — Jenks  and  counsel  trying  to  stop  him, 
saying  he  must  not  do  this,  the  audience  have  done  nothing 
to  be  driven  from  the  hall— counsel  declaring  he  will  not  be 
thus  disturbed,  &c.  Bothwell  gives  in  thus  :  You  may  stay 
'till  there  is  another  clap  or  stomp.  If  there  is  one  stomp 
you  shall  every  one  leave  the  hall.  Selah  !  How  would  it 
have  been  if  that  applause  had  been  for  and  as  favoring 
his  vile,  worse  than  murderous  proceedings?  Can  you 
imagine? 

The  counsel  goes  on,  makes  out  Bartlett  imbecile  or  under 
some  derangement,  or  he  would  not  have  thus  shown  to  all 
such  open,  barefaced,  incoherent  words,  without  one  con- 
necting word,  thus  hoping  to  criminate  innocence.  Though 
I  should  perhaps  have  said  to  Mrs.,  don't  object  &c.  You 
all  well  know  how  keenly  alive  Mrs.  Hill  is  to  the  least  insult 
from  Duncan  since  her  court  against  him  for  slander,  &c. 
And  Bates,  you  well  know  their  position,  and  when  Mrs. 
Hill  says  bloat  Bates  she  means  bloat  Bates.  I  never  saw 
bloat  Bates,  but  I  know  he  is  bloat  Bates,  for  Mrs.  Hill  has 
thus  affirmed. 

As  for  Bothwell's  proceedings  I  shall  say  nothing,  and  I 
trust  the  judge  will  have  nothing  to  lay  to  Mrs.  Hill's  charge. 
My  mental  agony  and  my  paid  counsel  leaving  Bothwell  thus ! 
That  treacherous  falsifier  !  worse  than  murderer  !  not  ana- 


139 

lyscd ! ! !  The  chief  actor  and  cause  of  this  scene,  as  much 
as  the  devil  presides  for  imps  in  the  bottomless  pit.  Oh,  oh, 
oh,  ph!  was  my  mental  ejaculation.  Jenks  stammering  worse 
than  when  I  wrote  his  will  (he  once  sent  for  mo  at  the 
school  house  about  2  r.  M.;  I  immediately  hastened  to  the 
rescue,  as  he  was  blue  and  thought  he  was  going  to  die,  etc., 
Wiii.  "NY right  witness  and  somebody  else.  He  will  have  to 
make  a  new  will  as  three  or  four  are  dead,  else  this  secret 
would  not  be  divulged  here,  saying),  I  guess  as  things  are  I 
must  give  Mrs.  Hill  $15  and  costs.  And,  readers,  that  was 
said  not  because  there  was  sin,  but  because  he  must  do  it  to 
keep  his  office  !  !  !  I  appeal,  and  Jenks  then  says,  you  may 
go  under  $300  bonds.  Such  hideous  mockery  of  justice  ! 
That  last  insolence  calmed  me ;  oh  how  calm  I  looked  at 
those  malefactors  with  as  clear  an  eye  of  their  diabolical 
determination  to  rob  me  of  money,  to  crush  me  in  spirit,  to 
thus  hold  me  forth  to  that  or  this  blaspheming,  taunting 
throng.  A  more  ignominious  set  hell  could  not  purge  from 
its  bowels.  Bothwell,  in  glee-.  Who  will  you  have  for 
bonds  ?  My  brother  would  be  bonds,  you  have  a  mortgage 
on  your  place,  &c.  (not  covering  one-third  of  it).  I  said, 
can't  I  give  my  own  security  ?  Jenks  :  No.  Counsel :  I 
think  you  might  let  Mrs.  Hill  be  her  own  security,  as  she 
owns  property,  pays  taxes  and  always  lived  here.  Jenks : 
That  makes  no  difference.  Another  man  came  forward, 
worth  his  thousands  :  Jenks,  don't  your  wife  hold  the  deed 
of  your  property  ?  Yes  ;  but  I  am  worth  a  good  deal  more 
than  that,  you  know.  Some  parties,  because  they  had  not 
back-bone,  like  that  contemptible  "  Peter ''  and  others,  left. 
I  looked  round  and  said  :  The  audience  cannot  fail  to  see 
this  bend  in  this  proceeding,  and  I  will  here  ask  in  this  way, 
if  there  is  a  man  in  this  hall  who  holds  real  estate,  free  from 
incumbrance,  of  sufficient  value  to  secure  said  bonds  with 
my  brother ;  qualifications  not  publicly  known,  not  much 
account  anyway,  nor  likely  to  be,  come  and  administer  the 
cup  of  cold  water,  if  such  a  man  can  or  must  be  found  ;  no 
other  will  be  admitted  here;  or  else  I  shall  have  to  be  re- 
manded back  into  the  felon's  cell  where  the  parties  are  mak- 
ing aim  for.    Forth  came  a  man  I  never  laid  eyes  on  before, 


140 

and  if  it  was  to  save  me  from  the  pit  I  have  never  been  able 
to  call  his  name,  he  having  to  designate  his  property,  where 
situated,  to  Bothwell  and  Jenks.  A  Frenchman— God  bless 
him  !  and  reader,  "  how  is  that  for  high."  I  will  say  I  sent 
runners  to  call  in  DeBevoise,  Avann  and  Wilson,  ministers. 
Wilson  was  present,  DeBevoise  absent.  He  only  is  seen  to 
help  crime  in  its  deepest  dye,  as  I  will  hereafter  name. 

Bothwell  immediately  asked  my  counsel  to  go  with 
him  to  see  about  property.  My  paid  counsel  considering  it. 
I  consider  it  an  insult  to  rush  him  from  me  at  this  moment. 
Counsel  well  understood  that  move  won't  work.  Down  in 
the  carriage,  drove  home.  Recess :  at  noon  of  one  hour 
counsel  dined  at  my  residence,  also  driving  to  the  homestead 
a  second  time,  counsel  advising  me  not  to  cut  any  more 
walnut  trees  (without  his  advice  being  asked.)  I  had  an 
internal  smile,  reading  thus :  you  think  you  can  keep 
the  case  so  and  so  long  and  be  sure  of  pay. 

Oh  such  management  of  courts !  It  is  enough  to  make 
drops  of  blood  burst  from  my  face,  knowing  as  I  do  their 
proceeding.  "We  returned  to  Jenks'  office,  as  counsel  had 
left  his  coat  there,  I  in  the  carriage  with  the  driver.  The 
loud  ring  of  laughter  from  those  three  men,  the  length  of 
time  it  took  him  to  get  back  to  the  carriage  and  his  frail 
excuse,  planted  him,  never  to  be  resurrected,  in  my  mind 
again,  mentally  saying  I  have  paid  you,  take  you  as  a 
gentleman  and  return  you  to  the  depot.  Good  bye  forever, 
so  help  me  God. 

The  day  before  said  Court  I  posted  the  following  notice 
upon  the  Town  House,  beside  the  box  for  public  warrants,  &c. : 

"  Owing  to  malicious  and  designing  abuse,  from  citizens 
of  this  town,  I  am  compelled,  for  my  own  safety,  to  issue 
the  following : 

"  Whoever  trespasses  upon  my  land,  bars,  gates  or  wall — 
that  is,  boundary  line  of  the  real  estate  of  which  I  am 
legally  seized — will  be  held  amenable  to  the  law. 

"  Dire  necessity  has  caused  the  above  to  be  issued  for  the 
safety  of  my  being.  „  R  R   Htt.t.. 

"  North  Brookfield,  Sept.  10, 1877." 


141 

Bothwell,  taking  from  my  hand  a  poster,  saying  I  will 
post  one  of  these  on  the  Adams  Block.  Said  Bothwell  post- 
ing said  poster  low  down  on  a  barber's  pole,  as  report  has 
it.     Neither  poster  to  be  seen  next  morning. 

"  In  memory  of 

Mr.  Kufus  Herbert, 

"Who   fell   in    the   bloody 

(Committed  by  Benedict  Arnold's  troops) 

Massacre  at  Fort  Griswold, 

Sept.  6th,  1781, 

In  the  40th  yeer  of  his  age. 

Header,  consider  how  I  fell — 

For  Liberty  I  blead  ! 
Oh  then  repent,  ye  sons  of  hell, 

For  the  innocent  blood  you  shead." 

NORTH   BROOKFIELD. 

The  town  is  excited  over  to-day's  trial  of  Mrs.  E.  R.  Hill 
for  attempting  to  break  up  a  funeral  procession.  Theophi- 
lus  Bates,  having  hitched  his  horse  to  her  fence  while  at- 
tending his  brother's  funeral,  she  unhitched  it,  and  when  it 
was  again  tied,  treated  the  whole  crowd  to  a  tirade  of  indis- 
criminate abuse.  Being  arrested,  she  threatened  to  undress 
and  appear  clothed  only  in  her  native  purity  ;  but  as  this 
didn't  seem  to  terrify  the  constable  much,  she  thought  bet- 
ter of  it,  and  contented  herself  with  loud  talk  and  threats 
of  burning  the  houses  of  all  the  Bateses  and  Duncans  in 
the  place.  She  is  known  in  the  town  as  a  woman  of  con- 
siderable mental  power  and  a  most  fearful  temper. — Spring- 
field Republican,  Sept.  14. 

Mrs.  E.  R.  Hill,  of  North  Brookfield,  was  fined  $15  and 
costs,  Saturday,  for  disturbing  the  peace,  but  appealed  and 
was  put  under  $300  bonds  to  the  Superior  Court.  Her  hus- 
band asserts  that  the  prosecution  is  malicious  and  that  the 
arrest  was  in  violation  of  the  law. — Springfield  Republican, 
Sept  14. 


142 

North  Brookfield,  September  18. 

Mr.  Editor, — As  you  have  repeated  in  your  last  issue  the 
atrocious  libel  which  the  Springfield  Republican  issued 
against  me,  for  the  special  benefit  of  the  North  Brookfield 
Railroad  Corporation  and  Masonic  aggrandizement,  seem- 
ingly hoping  to  adjudicate  the  railroad  land  damage  to 
"which  the  parties  are  defendants,  on  whom  their  wreaking 
thirst  for  my  land,  my  character,  my  all,  must  have  satiety. 
Mr.  Bothwell's  threat  to  Mrs.  E.  B.  Hill,  when  settling  for 
services,  viz :  J.  Duncan  and  wife  slander  trial,  in  March, 
1872,  which  my  memoranda  will  witness.  He  too  has  had  a 
cup  of  satiety  which  he  wishes  to  drink  from  at  my  expense 
and  character.  Said  Both  well,  on  the  11th  instant,  in  open 
violation  of  the  statutes,  trespassed  upon  my  premises  with- 
out cause,  except  the  above  mentioned,  and  without  justifi- 
able provocation  seized  me  on  my  own  land,  while  in  per- 
formance of  my  daily  labor,  &c,  holding  my  hands  and 
calling  help  to  hold  my  feet,  and  thus  I  was  carried  and 
forced  into  a  felon's  cell  about  noon,  and  there  kept  in  that 
loathsome  cell  till  5  o'clock  the  next  morning,  full  report  of 
which,  together  with  the  taunts  of  himself  and  John  Hebard 
to  .me  in  the  cell,  will  be  issued  in  pamphlet  form  at  an  early 
date,  if  my  health  will  permit,  together  with  profile  of 
grounds,  <fcc.  And  every  statement  in  said  book  shall  be 
"  the  truth,  the  whole  truth,  and  nothing  but  the  truth,  so 

help  me  God." 

E.  E.  Hill. 

North  Brookfield,  Sept.  21st,  1877. 

Rev.  G.  H.  Wilson, 

Of  Union  Congregational   Church,  North  Brookfield, 

Mass.  : 

I  herewith  send  you  protest  as  minister  of  the  church 
above  mentioned,  forbidding  your  administering  the  "  Lord's 
Supper  "  to  S.  Both  well,  member  of  said  church,  as  he  stands 
a  perjured  liar  before  Almighty  God  and  man,  by  the  testi- 
mony he  fabricated  on  the  14th  iust.,  against  me,  on  whom  he 


143 

Was  wreaking  his  long  thirsting  revenge,  together  with  the 
taunting  throng,  who  are,  as  of  old,  ready  to  blaspheme  vir- 
tue and  purity. 

Respectfully, 

Elizabeth  R.  Hill, 

Member  of  said  church. 


North  Brookfield,  Sept.  21st,  1877. 

Rev.  G.  H.  DeBevoise  : 

Gentleman, — I  herewith  ask  you  to  cut  the  walnut  tree 
standing  upon  your  grave  lot  in  Walnut  Grove  Cemetery,  in 
said  North  Brookfield,  Mass. ;  my  grave  lot,  which  is  holy 
ground,  ranging  by  side  of  yours,  A.  Barlow  and  R.  Doane, 
you  three  gentlemen  owning  said  Jot  and  trees  thereon, 
which  are  a  nuisance  in  said  yard.  I  have  repeatedly  been 
eye  witness  to  married  men,  women  and  boys,  throwing 
clubs  upon  said  DeBevoise  tree  to  bring  down  walnuts 
therefrom,  to  my  grief  and  horror.  And  according  to  agree- 
ment made  heretofore,  there  is,  on  Tuesday  next,  a  valuable 
monument  to  be  placed  upon  my  holy  lot  in  commemora- 
tion of  my  loved,  lost,  beautiful  boys,  upon  top  of  which  is 
a  biblical  symbol ;  some  parts  thereof  may  be  easily  broken 
by  boughs,  clubs  or  sticks  falling  from  said  tree,  ignoring,  at 
this  time,  what  may  happen  by  malicious  design  in  thy 
midst,  of  whom,  in  church,  you  are  "  head  shepherd". 
Therefore,  I  pray  you,  without  delay,  even  before  the  set- 
ting up  of  my  monument,  bought,  marked  and  paid  for,  you 
will  cause  said  tree  to  be  cut  down  at  once. 

Respectfully, 

E.  R.  Hill. 

I  delivered  the  above  letter  personally  to  Mrs.  I.  May 
(wife  of  cemetery  committee)  and  in  whose  house  said 
DeBevoise  rooms.  On  my  way  there  I  called  at  the  store 
of  G.  C.  Lincoln,  second  selectman  of  said  North  Brook- 
field, and  read  to  him,  orally,  the  above  letter,  asking  him 
to  forward   the   cutting  of  the  above  mentioned  tree   (at 


144 

March  meeting  the  selectmen  were  appointed  to  act  with 
the  cemetery  committee  in  removing  said  trees,  laying  out 
of  new  lots,  repairing  tombs,  building  wall,  &c).  He  com- 
menced arguing  thus :  "  We  can't  do  it ;  Mr.  DeBevoise 
don't  want  it  cut,  and  we  shan't  cut  it ;  and  you  need  not 
try  to  make  any  fuss  about  it ;  it'll  amount  to  nothing  but 
one  of  your  rows."  I  sarcastically  replied  :  "  I  did  not  stop 
to  argue,  only  to  notify  and  appeal  to  you  as  an  officer  of 
the  town."  G.  C.  L.  said  :  "  Very  well."  I  sped  off,  and  ere  I 
reached  said  May's  I  met  said  Committee  May  ;  reading 
the  letter  to  him  in  the  street,  to  which  he  replied  as  fol- 
lows :  "  That's  right,  and  well  explained,  and  Mr.  DeBe- 
voise  and  everybody  can  tell  just  what  you  want  done  ;  it 
ought  to  be  done  ;  the  trees  are  a  nuisance,  and  we  commit- 
tee did  our  best  to  have  those  trees  cut  when  felling  the 
rest  in  the  spring."  "  Will  you  'tend  to  it  ?  "  "  Yes  ;  DeBe- 
voise  is  not  at  home, but  will  be  at  one  o'clock  p.  M."  I  went 
on  and  left  said  letter  with  May's  wife,  to  be  delivered  on 
DeBevoise's  arrival  without  delay.  The  22d,  eight  o'clock,  I 
was  at  post  office  for  my  morning  mail,  and  there  found  a 
postal  card  from  monument  dealer  stating  my  monument 
was  being  delivered  by  private  team  as  the  safest  way  and 
would  be  at  Walnut  Grove  Cemetery  between  eleven  and 
twelve  o'clock  A.  M. 

As  I  turned  to  come  out  of  said  office  Mr.  DeBevoise  stood 
at  my  right  hand.  I  said,  "  Mr.  DeBevoise,  my  monument 
is  coming  up  this  morning,"  placing  my  card  before  him, 
pointing  at  the  time,  &c.  DeBevoise  very  pertly  replied, 
"  What  is  that  to  me  ?"  I  says,  "  Did  you  get  my  letter  yes- 
terday?" DeBevoise:  "Yes;  I  shall  do  nothing  about  it 
whatever ;  that  tree  will  not  be  cut."  Hill :  "  Mr.  DeBevoise, 
all  branches  that  encroach  upon  my  lot  from  said  tree  will  be 
removed  this  day,  as  they  are  a  nuisance ;  if  you  will  cut 
them  it  will  save  me  the  trouble,"  I  following  him  to  the 
door,  DeBevoise  repeating,  "  I  shall  do  nothing  about  it,"  in 
tone  and  manner  that  brought  forth  the  following  :  When 
returning  from  Uncle  Thomas  Bartlett's,  Plymouth,  Mich., 
in  1873,  I  was  on  the  express  train  following  the  one  whose 
baggage  cars  wrere  precipitated  in  the  Welland  Canal,  near 


H5 

St.  Catherine's,  and  while  workmen  were  removing  the 
wreck,  baggage,  &c,  detaining  said  train  some  five  or  six 
hours  before  the  bridge  could  be  let  down,  that  the  train 
might  pass  over,  I  saw  what  I  called  some  very  diminutive, 
ignorant  French  Canadian  (Cannuck)  men  ;  bnt  I  don't  be- 
lieve there  was  one  among  them  that  possessed  so  contemp- 
tible, ignominious  a  spirit  as  that  which  earthly  Gabriel  H. 
DeBevoise  has  just  manifested  to  me,  the  "  widow  and 
fatherless." 

In  going  home  I  passed  Mr.  L.  Brewer's  (cemetery  com- 
mittee and  honored  sexton),  calling,  leaving  my  letter  to 
said  officials,  which  was  written  at  the  same  time  of  said 
Gabriel's,  telling  him  what  my  card  at  hand  informed  me, 
asking  him  to  proceed  at  once  to  execute  my  complaint  and 
wish,  Brewer  replying  it  shall  be  seen  to  at  once,  taking  the 
letter  addressed  to  them,  and  starting  forthwith.  I  will  see 
the  committee,  and  it  shall  be  'tended  to.  I  have  tried  for 
years  to  have  all  those  walnut  trees  removed,  for  they  have 
always  been  a  nuisance  in  the  yard,  as  you  say.  And  a  more 
objectionable  one  there  was  not  than  DeBevoise,  going  out 
of  his  saloon  in  advance  of  me,  I  following,  saying,  "  Your 
committee  wdll  be  down  there  without  fail  at  said  time, 
or  early  in  the  p.m.  ;  you  know  I  am  all  alone  to  tend  to  this 
sad  business."  Brewer  :  "  Some  of  us  will  be  there."  I 
passed  home,  put  on  my  working  apparel,  went  to  the  old 
homestead,  from  which  said  yard  was  sold  to  the  town, 
And  at  the  appointed  time  said  monument  arrived,  and  the 
colored  teamster  having  been  in  said  yard  other  times  for 
similar  business,  called  upon  said  Brewer  for  cemetery  key, 
and  was  directed  by  him  to  G.  C.  Lincoln,  above  men- 
tioned, for  the  same,  both  asking  if  he  had  Mrs.  Hill's  monu- 
ment. Reader,  imagine  me  in  that  graveyard,  anxiously 
looking,  and  wondering  why  don't  some  one  of  those  men 
come  down  here  as  promised.  Three  o'clock  p.  m.  the 
cottage  monument  was  set,  nothing  remaining  but  to  place 
an  urn  with  handles  (I  should  think,  some  16  to  20  inches 
high)  upon  the  top,  the  crowning  emblem,  said  workmen  ad- 
vising me  to  remove  the  branches  referred  to  before  the 
setting  of  the  urn,  for  the  liability  of  said  urn  being  broken 


146 

from  branches  falling  with  the  wind,  say  nothing  more,  be- 
fore twenty- four  hours,  as  I  had  during  their  time  there 
anxiously  watched  the  expected  coming  committee,  and 
their  non-appearance,  caused  me  to  employ  them  to  re- 
move said  trespassing  branches,  which  was  effected  in  less 
than  a  half  hour  of  time,  all  refuse  therefrom  cleared  away. 
Then  said  men  fastened  the  sacred  emblem  to  its  place,  I 
remaining,  and  with  most  scrupulous  neatness  removed,  with 
brush  and  hand,  the  most  trivial  specks  ;  thus  I  left.  The  next 
morning  being  Sabbath,  I  went  down  about  five  o'clock  to 
see  if  all  was  well  there  ;  nothing  being  disturbed  I  returned 
to  my  bed,  and  gave  up,  sick  with  rheumatic  attack.  About 
eleven  o'clock  my  brother,  who  lives  at  the  homestead,  came 
to  my  residence,  informiugme  that  he  had  just  driven  eight  or 
ten  boys  from  my  wTalnut  and  apple  trees  upon  which  they 
had  been  shaking  and  gathering,  the  foremost  of  said  boys 
being  the  one  who  had  stolen  my  gold  watch  from  my  reci- 
tation table  in  July,  1875.  Being  in  bed  trying  to  sweat 
myself,  I  asked  him  to  tell  Wilder  Dean,  Cons.,  to  come  in 
and  see  me,  which  he  did,  Mr.  Dean  promising  to  take 
charge  of  the  boys,  and  also  see  that  there  was  no  farther 
trespassing  upon  my  real  estate.  Mr.  Dean  said  he  would 
briug  those  boys  referred  to  to  justice,  at  once.  Said  Dean 
having  an  excuse  for  that  day,  Tuesday  also,  and  "Wednes- 
day another  excuse,  telling  me  to  go  to  Capen,  Brookfield, 
&c. 

Beader,  I  will  now  bring  forward  Gabriel  H.  DeBe- 
voise.  He  did  not  preach  to  his  "  own  flock  "  the  Sabbath 
following  the  trimming  of  his  walnut  tree  on  his  grave 
lot,  bat  said  desk  was  occupied  by  the  Oakham  pastor. 
Monday  morning,  in  good  season,  said  Gabriel  starts  his 
legal  investigation,  as  report  has  it,  this  wise  :  By  getting 
the  selectmen— graveyard  committee  — to  view  the  trimmed 
branches ;  appealing  to  them  for  succor  in  this  bereavement ; 
telling  them,  unless  they  proceeded  to  execute  judgment 
against  me,  he  should  be  obliged  thus  to  do.  The  commit- 
tee having  been  heretofore  anxious  that  said  trees  should 
bo  felled,  as  they  were  destructive  to  the  good  appearance 
of  the  yard,  as  sticks  and  stones  were  left  upon   lots  by 


147 

those  who  had  gathered  the  nuts  therefrom,  beside  the  fear- 
ful blacking  stain,  defacing  and  spoiling  all  marble  under 
the  shadow  of  said  trees.  Reader,  if  you  have  ever  read 
"Ginx's  Baby,"  or  "  Dame  Europa's  School,"  }^ou  maybe 
able  to  draw  a  parallel.  Therefore,  said  body  informed  said 
Gabriel  they  would  convene  Monday  evening,  and  see  what 
steps  to  take  to  appease  his  disturbed  feelings.  Meantime, 
said  Gabriel  began  to  collect  evidence.  Calling  first  upon 
Mr.  M.  Tyler,  at  the  farm-house,  whom  he  addressed  thus  : 
"  Do  you  know  who  trimmed  those  trees  in  the  cemetery?  " 
Tyler  :  "  I  don't  know  anything  about  it."  Gabriel :  "  Did 
not  you  iurnish  the  ladder  and  tools,  as  accessory  to  it  ?  " 
Tyler  :  "  I  did  not,  neither  was  I  consulted  about  it  in  any 
way."  Gabriel :  "  Could  your  ladder  be  taken,  &c,  without 
you  knowing  it  ?  "  Tyler  :  "  No."  Upon  this,  Willie  Stod- 
dard, an  epileptic,  came  to  the  rescue,  with  the  following 
information  :  "  I  see  Miss  Hill  and  Dennis  Horrigan  carry- 
ing a  ladder,  saw  and  axe,  and  'bed  cord  into  the  cemetery  ; 
the  white  man  sawed  off  the  branches,  the  colored  men 
carried  them  away,  and  Miss  JHill  cleaned  up ;  I  watched 
um."  Gabriel,  turning  to  Mr. Tyler,  saying:  "You  are 
forgiven."  Tyler  :  "  Forgiven  for  what  ?  "  Gabriel,  hasten- 
ing onward,  every  step  bringing  him  nearer  that  sanctuary 
where  he  preaches  "  Peace  „and  good  will  to  all  men,"  and 
"if  thy  brother  trespass  against  thee,  forgive  him  seventy 
times  seven."  And  ere  he  reaches  that  "  dedicated  plot," 
he  stops,  calls  for  Mr.  Erasmus  Haston,  and  questions  him 
thus  :  "  Did  you  lend  Mrs.  Hill  tools  on  Saturday  last  ?  " 
Haston:  "I  did."  Gabriel:  "Who  borrowed  them?" 
Haston:  "Mrs.  Hill.'-  Gabriel  :  ''"What  did  she  say?" 
Haston  :  "  She  wanted  my  best  axe  and  saw  ;  she  keeps  no 
such  implement,  and  when  she  wants  one,  I  let  her,  or  who- 
ever comes  for  it,  have  it."  Gabriel :  "  What  did  she  say 
she  was  going  to  do  with  it  ?  "  Haston  :  "  I  don't  think  she 
told  ;  she  was  in  great  haste."  Gabriel :  "  WTho  brought 
them  back  ?  "  Haston  :  "  A  boy."  Gabriel :  "  What  boy  ?  " 
Haston  :  "  I  could  not  say  certain,  but  I  think  it  was  a  Hor- 
rigan boy."  Gabriel :  "  What  did  he  say  ?  "  Haston  :  "  If 
anything,  it  was  thank  you."     Gabriel :   "  Have  you  seen 


148 

Mrs.  Hill  since?"  Haston  :  "I  Lave."  Gabriel :"  What 
did  she  say  ?  "  Haston  :  "  She  said  her  monument  was  set 
without  accident,  and  she  was  much  pleased  with  it ;  she 
was  here  after  her  milk."  Gabriel  :  "  Did  she  not  say  any- 
thing  else  ?  "  Haston  :  "  Yes,  she  wished  me  to  bring  her 
over  a  peck  of  potatoes."  Gabriel :  "  Was  that  all  ?  "  Has- 
ton :  "  Yes  "  Gabriel  passes  by  the  nest  house,  being  the 
one  from  which  the  dead  bodies  of  wife  and  child  had  been 
borne  some  three  years  previous,  to  whom  Mrs.  Hill  had 
carried  a  large  quantity  of  Baltimore  belle  rose  buds,  wax 
flowers,  yucca  blossoms  (baby  DeBevoise,  though  eleven 
years  old,  was  thus  called),  together  with  her  brother 
James,  had  been  my  pupils,  at  my  residence,  as  well  as  in  the 
school-house,  passing  the  sanctuary  to  his  boarding-house. 
In  the  afternoon,  G.  H.  DeBevoise  takes  a  team,  drives  out 
one  and  a  half  miles  to  School  District  No.  7,  takes  said 
Willie  Stoddard  to  said  school-house,  and  there  calls  for 
Dennis  Horrigan ;  said  boy,  eight  years  of  age,  appearing 
at  their  request;  and  Gabriel  questioned  him  thus:  "Is 
your  name  Dennis  Horrigan?"  Dennis:  "Yes,  sir."  Ga- 
briel :  "  What  did  you  do  for  Mrs.  Hill  last  Saturday?  "  Den- 
nis :  "  I  helped  her  carry  a  ladder  down  to  her  baby's  grave 
lot."  Gabriel :  "  Where  did  she  put  it  ?  "  Dennis :  "  Beside 
her  babies'  grave."  Gabriel:  "What  else  did  she  do  with 
it  ?  "  Dennis  :  "I  don't  know;  I  was  in  a  hurry  to  get  home." 
Gabriel  :  "  Did  you  carry  anything  else  ?"  Dennis  :  "  Yes, 
sir,  I  carried  a  saw."  Gabriel :  "  Who  carried  the  axe  ?  " 
Dennis  :  "  Mrs.  Hill  carried  the  axe  and  bed  cord."  Gabriel : 
"What  did  she  say  she  was  going  to  do  with  them?  "  Den- 
nis :  "  She  did  not  say."  Gabriel :  "  What  did  she  talk 
about?"  Dennis  :"  Why  I  don't  know."  Gabriel :"  You 
do  know  ?  "  Dennis,  "Why  she  said  the  rounds  were  a  foot 
apart  in  the  ladder,  and  asked  me  to  guess  the  distance  be- 
tween things."  Gabriel :  "  What  else  did  she  say  ?"  Dennis  : 
"  She  told  me  to  hurry  home,  and  she  would  make  me  a 
present  one  of  these  days."  In  the  evening,  Mr.  Brewer 
said  the  committee  had  thought  it  best  to  have  a  final  deci- 
sion upon  that  vexed  question. 

Sept.  25. — Tuesday  morning,  report  has  it,  the  following 


149 

gentlemen  were  deputized  to  investigate  said  monument 
dealer,  aud,  if  judgment  could  be  executed,  to  do  tho  same. 
May,  of  cemetery  committee,  Gabriel  H.  DeBovoise,  S. 
Bothwell,  "who  with  dripping  glands  was  anxiously  waiting 
for  time  to  speed  its  flight  that  ho  could  grasp  Mrs.  Hill's 
hands.  "  I'll  got  the  handcuffs  on  this  time  ;  I  tell  you  we'll 
get  her  name  in  the  newspapers,  and  everything  I  can  have 
suggested  will  help  bring  about  the  time  when  she  will  beg 
me  to  let  her  rest.  I'll  give  you  a  clear  title  to  every  pos- 
session of  mine  on  earth.  This  is  the  richest  thing  out, 
DeBevoise  is  going  to  settle  that  railroad  claim  for  the 
town."  Thus  that  diabolical  S.  Bothwell  must  overflow  his 
peculiar  channels  of  imagination. 

'<  [>t.  2G, — Wednesday  morning,  at  different  corners  of  the 
street,  report  has  it,  "  Sirs.  Hill  is  arrested ;  DeBevoise 
done  it  this  time ;  that  French  Gabriel  ain't  going  to  help 
Mrs.  Hill,  'cause  she  don't  worship  deviltry."  Just  think  of 
that  DeBevoise,  only  a  few  weeks  ago,  taking  the  part  of  a 
drunkard,  who  was  profanely  and  fast  driving  a  horse  on 
the  Sabbath  day — to  such  an  extent  of  brutality,  that  the 
horse  died  in  a  few  minutes  after  he  landed  in  the  stable. 
"That's  so.  Yes,  and  that  ain't  all.  "When  Hebard  had 
the  drunkard  and  horse-killer  arrested  and  brought  up  in 
Jenks'  office,  that  little  DeBevoise  got  right  down  side  of 
Jenks,  kept  whispering,  and,  ye  see,  the  feller  was  almost 
dead  drunk.  The  horse  was  an  awful  sight,  he  had  sweated 
so.  You  see,  Jenks  was  obliged  to  fine  him,  with  costs.,  and 
DeBevoise  paid  it.     This  will  show  up  old  DeBevoise." 

Wednesday  I  was  near  sick-a-bed  ;  it's  not  much  use  to  try 
to  move.  Mrs.  John  Weatherel  is  to  be  buried  this  p.  m.  I 
went  to  the  homestead,  hoping  to  see  the  sexton,  that  I  might 
tell  him  to  occupy  any  hitching  places  there  are  around  my 
land,  as  I  had  no  objection,  and  was  glad  to  assist  all  in 
their  time  of  trouble,  who  had  not  committed  the  unpardon-( 
able  sin. 

When  at  baby's  grave,  Tuesday,  I  was  told  of  the  company 
that  had  gone  to  Worcester,  also  that  Perry,  the  new  sexton, 
was  saying,  "  If  Miss  Hill  has  cut  those  branches  one  inch 
shorter  than  the  law  provides,  we   shall  have  her  arrested ; 


150 

and  we  calculate  we  shall  got  the  cemetery  fine  on  her." 
Bystander:  "Why,  Perry,  yon  have  been  trying  to  have 
those  trees  cut ;  you're  going  to  join  Gabriel  in  his  meanness." 
"  We  don't  propose  Mrs.  Hill  shall  do  our  business  for  us." 
"  Why  didn't  you  come  down  then  ?  You  always  come  when 
sent  for  by  anybody  else.  I  will  tell  you  why  you  did  not 
come.  You  knew  well  those  branches  would  havo  to  come 
off  over  Mrs.  Hill's  lot,  and  your  committee  thought  you 
would  hang  back,  and  let  her  trim,  thus  making  her  a  '  cat's 
paw,'  to  give  you  the  chance  to  cut  those  trees  down." 

Wednesday  p.  M.,  I  was  at  the  homestead,  waiting  for  the 
funeral  procession  of  Mrs.  Weatherel,  and  as  friends  were 
gnthei'ingin  the  grave-yard,  I  sitting  in  front  door,  Bothwell 
and  Foster  rode  by,  hitching  their  horse  upon  my  premises; 
also  W.kler  Dean,  three  constables  in  their  working  suits ; 
soon  f  j'lowed  by  Mr.  Stone,  in  carriage,  from  Hebard  & 
Duncan's  livery  stable  alone ;'  he  seeing  me,  dropped  his 
eyes,  as  if  moist,  to  weep.  B-eader,  the  damnable  plot  of  these 
men  was  clear  to  be  seen  by  me.  Thus  I  sat  noticing  their 
every  move,  not  forgetful  of  the  sad  rite  being  performed. 
I  had  placed  in  my  Walnut  Grove  plot  a  cross,  with  notice 
reading  as  follows :  "  Bev.  G.  H.  DeBevoise,  pause  and 
consider.  Please,  G.  H.  DeBevoise,  preach  from  this  text 
next  holy  day, — Upon  this  cross  was  nailed  a  Serpent,  whose 
head  I  had  bruised  in  the  path  between  G.  H.  DeBevoise 
and  my  grave  lot." 

Fea:  iiic*  the  chalk  marks  would  soon  be  effaced  I  wrote 
He  v.  G.  H.  DeBevoise  to  please  preach  from  the  above 
symbol  the  next  holy  day.     This  notice  also  on  the  cross : 

"  Owing  to  malicious  and  designing  abuse  from  citizens  of 
this  town  I  am  compelled,  for  my  own  safety,  to  issue  the 
following  :  Whoever  trespasses  upon  my  land,  bars,  gates  or 
wall  that  is  the  boundary  line  of  the  real  estate  of  which  I 
am  legally  seized,  will  be  held  amenable  to  the  law.  Dire 
necessity  has  caused  the  above  to  be  issued  for  the  safety  of 
my  being. 

"E.  E.  Hill." 


151 

Botliwell  ana  Foster  read  said  notice,  from  appearances. 
Bothweli  situngupon  my  wall  after  reading  and  writing  off  the 
same.  During  Lis  writing  he  would  stop  and  pick  upon  said 
cross  (plainly  to  be  seen),  thus  removing  said  serpent.  The 
mourners  were  dispersing,  and  Bothwell's  comrade  directed 
his  attention  to  me  in  the  door.  He  slowly  took  himself  off  of 
my  wall,  then  turning  and  coming  unto  where  I  was  standing, 
in  the  presence  of  scores,  and  addresses  me  thus  :  "  Ilrave  a 
warrant  for  your  arrest  for  cutting  those  trees  ;  I  ain't  going 
to  read  it  now.  but  I  give  you  a  chance  to  .get  you  a  lawyer,* 
as  you  will  be  tried  before  Jenks,  on  Saturday — so  be  ready." 
I  did  not  speak.  All  eyes  were  upon  me.  He  continued,  "  I 
warn  you  not  to  cut,  or  break  in  any  way,  a  limb  or  branch 
hanging  over  the  wall  on  your  land.  The  wall  belongs  to 
the  cemetery,  and  the  limbs  don't  hurt  your  land  ;  if  you  cut 
or  break  one  I  shall  have  another  arrest  on  you,  the  warrant 
is  in  my  pocket  to  do  it,"  &c.  Still  I  did  not  speak.  Both- 
well  said  :  "  Will  you  be  ready  on  Saturday  at  ten  o'clock?  " 
Still  I  did  not  speak.  Bothweli  said,  "  If  you  are  deaf  and 
dumb  it's  no  use  to  talk,"  and  walked  off.  Beader,  I  did 
move,  after  he  passed,  and  went  east  to  look  and  see  what 
Bothweli  had  picked  from  the  cross.  He  had  picked  the 
serpent  off,  thus  removing  the  symbol  so  significant  at  this 
time.  Miss  Horrigan  came  along,  carried  me  home,  and  then 
went  to  the  village  for  my  mail  where  I  heard  of  the  most 
fiendish  plot  be.ing  laid  to  end  my  public  career  for  all  time. 
One  said,  "  last  evening,  so  and  so,  was  arranged  for  to-day, 
and  you  have  outwitted  their  design,  it's  only  added  fuel  to 
their  flames.  I  tell  you,  Mrs.  Hill,  if  you  should  not  speak  in 
your  ordinary  tone  upon  railroads,  or  your  imprisonment  in  the 
cell,  they  are  going  to  got  you  there,  or  into  some  hellish 
spot."  I  still  breathe,  but,  readers,  I  say  to  you  that  never, 
in  ancient  or  modern  history,  or  in  works  of  fiction,  can  bo 
found  printed  the  malicious  designing  abuse  those  church 
masonic  men  are  dealing  out  to  me.  Header,  you  cannot 
think  it's  the  cutting  of  less  than  one-half  foot  of  solid  wood 
from  the  three  trees ;  oh,  no.  It's  their  sins,  and  Mrs.  Hill 
will  not  compromise  the  same.  Thursday  morning  I  went 
to  Worcester,  and  there  learned  from  a  monument  dealer 


152 

that  the  men  described  came  into  his  building,  Tuesday,  and 
asked  him  if  he  cut  the  branches  for  Mrs.  Hill  on  Saturday; 
and  as  ho  did  not,  and  the  two  men  were  absent,  they  were 
not  likely  to  find  much  satisfaction.  He  described  a  short 
man  with  stove-pipe  hat  as  nervously  snapping  and  moving 
all  the  time.  I  says  to  myself,  "  I  wish  that  little  spitfire 
could  let  off  some  of  his  fuel,  he'd  feel  better."  Reader,  that 
little  man  was  Gabriel. 

Sept.  27. — Thursday  evening  I  returned  home.  Ere  I  could 
get  there,  I  was  told  "  they  had  been  drumming  citizens  to 
be  at  the  Town  Hall  on  Saturday,  for  Mrs.  Hill  was  to  be 
tried  before  Jenks ;  don't  fail  to  come  ;  tell  all  the  boys ;  a 
gay  time  we  shall  have  ;  golly,  I  guess  she  wishes  she  hadn't 
wrote  about  the  railroad,"  etc.  And  a  good  church  woman 
had  read  something  her  own  fancy  had  suggested,  and  the 
frail  gossip  women  were  gathering  together,  hoping  Mr. 
DeBevoise  will  get  the  case,  he  is  so  good ;  he  ha'n't  had 
a  chance  to  play  croquet  once  (this  being  Gabriel's  pastime). 

Mrs. says,  "  I  think  it  is  a  shame  Mrs.  Hill  should 

dare  cut  those  branches !  "  At  my  own  home,  soon  my  bell 
rang,  when  a  friend  came  to  me,  saying  that  Bothwell  had 
employed,  as  report  says,  a  fish-pedlar  to  spread  my  arrest, 
and  trial  to  be  on  Saturday,  and  to  tell  every  one  to  come 
on  for  a  time,  and  the  pedlar  has  done  so !  Headers,  this 
book  represents  the  condition  of  affairs  in  North  Brookfield, 
Mass.  Saturday  I  was  in  New  York  city.  Sent  telegram  to 
C.  E.  Jenks — "  I  waive  examination.  Call  on  Erasmus  Has- 
ton  and  T.  Horrigan  for  bonds.  Elizabeth  Pi.  Hill."  Thus, 
that  Saturday  DeBevoise  was  thwarted  in  his  evil  purpose 
against  me.  Reader,  I  would  no  more  go  before  Jenks  and 
the  tools  the  town  uses  to  maltreat  justice  and  right,  and 
utter  a  word  again,  except  the  above  dispatch,  than  I  would 
put  my  head  in  the  largest  live  hornet's  nest  ever  seen  by 
man,  and  expect  to  come  off  unstung.  I  wrote  Tuesday  (on 
hearing  of  said  gentleman  G,  being  still  on  the  raid)  to  ceme- 
tery committee,  to  refresh  the  mind  of  DeBevoise  of  the 
number  of  times  he  had  thrown  refuse  upon  my  land,  also 
trespassing  himself  and  son  many  times  upon  the  same 


153 

which  may  be  applied  as  follows,  "  An  eye  for  an  eye,  a 
tooth  for  a  tooth."     I  will  here  insert  a  few  epitaphs. 

On  the  tombstone  of  Kev.  Joseph  Moody,  a  somewhat 
eccentric  pastor  of  the  olden  time,  at  York,  Maine,  is  this 

couplet — 

"  Although  this  stone  may  moulder  into  dust, 

Yet,  Joseph  Moody's  name  continue  must." 

At  Banbury  churchyard,  Oxfordshire,  England,  is  the  fol- 
lowing : 

"  To  the  memory  of  Ric.  Richards,  who  by  a  gangreen  first  lost  a  toe, 
afterwards  a  leg,  and  lastly  hio  life,  on  the  7th  April,  1650. 

"  Ah  !  cruel  Death,  to  make  three  meals  of  one  ! 
To  taste,  and  eat  and  eat,  till  all  was  gone. 
But  know,  thou  tyrant !  when  the  trump  shall  call, 
He'll  find  his  ieet,  and  stand  when  thou  shalt  fall." 

The  following  is  said  to  be  on  a  tombstone,  near  London : 

"Poor  Marthie  Shiel  has  gone  away: 
Her  would  if  her  could,  but  her  couldn't  stay ; 
Her  had  2  bad  legs  and  a  baddish  cough  ; 
It  was  her  two  bad  legs  that  carried  her  off." 

The  epitaphs  can  be  used  as  a  comparison,  if  you  wish. 
The  following  inscription  on  a  tombstone,  in   England, 
may  be  regarded  as  somewhat  doctrinal : 

"  Bold  Infidelity,  turn  pale  and  die — 
Beneath  this  stone  four  infants'  ashes  lie ; 

Say,  are  they  lost  or  saved  ? 
If  death's  by  sin,  they  sinned  !  because  they  are  here ; 
If  heaven's  by  works,  in  heaven  they  can't  appear. 

Reason,  oh  !  how  depraved  ! 
Revere  the  Bible  sacred  page,  the  knot's  untied : 
They  died,  for  Adam  sinned ;  they  live,  for  Jesus  died. 

That  Gabriel  H.  DeBevoise  was  held  as  eccentric  by  his 
own  parishioners,  by  others,  simple-minded,  and  many  hoping 
he  would  know  enough  to  leave  town  (by  being  called)  with- 
out being  advised  he  must  go,  &c.  I  would  wish  to  call  the 
name,  but  will  at  the  time  it  may  be  desired.     During  those 


154 

many  hearings,  I  never  spoke  against  him.  But  I  will  say, 
within  the  last  four  years,  at  funerals,  he  has  astonished  me 
beyond  measure,  and  his  great  notice  of  parties  having  per- 
petrated demoralizing  and  prison  offences.  The  first  case 
I  will  mention  is  Fred.  Porter,  who  was  obliged  for  illegal 
misdemeanors  committed  in  Boston,  where  employed,  being 
at  the  time  twenty-seven  or  eight  years  of  age  (as  I  have 
been  acquainted  from  his  birth  to  that  time),  and,  if  report 
is  true,  not  the  first  nor  second  but  third  offence  (Mrs.  Pa; 
ladize  particularizing  to  Mrs.  Josiah  Whiting,  said  Paradise 
associates,  in  Boston).  He  leaves,  nobody  knows,  as  is  told. 
After  being  gone  twelve  years,  more  or  less,  returns  last  sum- 
mer to  his  mother's  house.  During  his  absence  he  changes 
his  name  to  Perry,  marries,  and  is  a  father.  Thus  his  wife 
knows  nothing  of  his  home  but  that  he  is  an  orphan.  He 
returns  to  his  late  father's  house,  his  wife,  Mrs.  Perry,  and 

the  child,  Perry.    That's  the  way.     Well,  how  is  it,  Mr. ? 

Header,  is  that  child's  name  Perry  or  Porter? 

The  late  Dr.  Porter,  not' on  noticable  terms  with  said 
Gabriel  DeBevoise,  and  when  DeBevoise's  child  and  wife 
died,  Mrs.  P.  with  her  own  tongue,  hoped  it  would  be  the 
means  of  Gabriel  removing  from  our  midst,  &c.  She  hoped 
he  would  know  enough  to  understand  its  plain  meaning.  He 
has  not  sense  for  the  needs  of  this  town,  &c.  When  the 
prodigal  son  returned,  Gabriel  was  foremost  in  giving  him 
front  rank,  so  far  as  his  influence  could  avail,  inviting  him 
in  the  church  with  a  rush  (a  disgrace).  When  I  called  on 
Gabriel  (reader,  I  never  shall  know  Rev.  to  that  man  again) 
informing  him  of  Sherman,  etc.,  said  Perry  or  Porter,  wife 
and  child,  was  at  his  office ;  Gabriel  urging  them  to  call  often 
and  play  croquet.  When  I  left  said  office,  I  wished  him  to 
visit  me.  Gabriel  replied  :  "  I  will  see  Mr.  Sherman  ;  I  think 
he  ought  to  pay  you,  and  if  you  will  not  enforce  the  law,  I 
will  see  it  is  paid."  I  told  him  I  had  no  desire  to  deal  in 
law ;  far  from  it,  &c.  All  the  words  since  between  DeBe- 
voise and  me,  are  in  this  book.  DeBevoise  was  going  past 
my  mowing  that  the  engine  had  just  set  burning.  I  directed 
his  attention  to  my  trouble.  "  That  "  says  Gabriel,  "  won't 
hurt  it  any ;  that,  there,  and  then  a  '  balm  in  Gilead !' " 


155 

The  reckless  driver  and  killer  of  a  horse  on  Sabbath  day. 
The  Monday  following,  Gabriel  was  staving  off  jail  for  said 
criminal,  and  truly  rehearsed  by  the  "  boys  here  before."  An- 
other instance  of  moral  depravity  in  our  midst,  and  Gabriel 
figures :  Thus,  a  miss  of  twenty  years  and  more,  born  of 
common  people,  which  moi  ey  had  advanced  beyond  good 
sense,  was  about  to  be  married,  having  six  bridesmaids 
and  six  grooms  (in  waiting).  She  became  ailing,  &c,  and 
calling  a  sugar-pill  doctor,  his  prescription  was  :  "Be  mar- 
ried without  delay.''  Her  innocence  she  declared ;  also 
denying  if  it  was  that,  she  never  "knew  men."  The 
affianced  groom  saying,  "  if  it  was  so,  it  was  not  his ;  he 
had  never  '  known  '  her."  She  doctored  and  doctored,  and 
the  sugar-pill  urging  her  to  marry.  Her  sickness  brought 
wonderful  rotundity.  Said  sugar  doctor  went  to  Dr.  Tyler, 
as  report  has  it,  to  go  and  see  said  patient.  Dr.  Tyler, 
passing  out  into  the  sitting-room  to  father  and  mother  of 
said  girl,  said  :  "  If  you  want  your  grandchild  born  under 
wedlock,  my  advice  is  to  have  your  daughter  married 
this  evening ;  the  child  will  be  born  inside  ot  a  week  and 
prepare  for  the  same  at  once^     Good  day.' 

The  father,  daughter  and  to  be-son,  started  off  in  haste, 
going  to  South  Brookfield,  calling  their  minister  up  and  out 
of  bed,  and,  without  maid  or  groom,  were  married  between 
9  and  10  o'clock  p.  m.  Oh  that  fearfully  lying  to  a  mother, 
hypocrisy  to  be  handed  down  from  generation  to  generation, 
is  the  greatest  destroying  sin  ot  this  world.  That  affair  was 
laughable.  The  big  shop  promising  the  child  pegging-block 
or  piano.  It  is  what  I  call  low,  but  shows*the  color  ®f  North 
Brookfield.  Gabriel  evidently  sorry  (by  his  conduct)  that 
she  had  to  say,  "  I  am  sorry  I  have  sinned,  and  I  pray  this 
church  to  forgive  us ;"  all  is  now  white  as  snow ;  drive  on. 

There  was  a  lady,  good-hearted  and  a  good  singer,  died ; 
Gabriel  was  much  affected  (it  seemed  as  if  he  would  burst), 
and  also  it  seemed  by  his  calling  Mrs.  Stoddard  so  often,  so 
near  together,  that  his  grief  thus  found  vent.  A  lady,  aunt 
by  marriage,  was  so  disgusted  (as  well  as  many  others)  she 
hitched  this  way,  that,  and  the  other  ;  if  the  turns  had  been 
straight  ahead,  she  would  have  been  a  number  of  rods  off. 


156 

1  have  laughed  maL.y  a  time  till  my  sides  ached,  thinking 
of  his  fanciful  eulogies,  and  his  great  power  of  giving  those 
who  are  pleasing  to  Gabriel  their  local  position  in  heaven. 
Gabriel  calls  forth  this  epitaph,  on  a  tombstone  near  Lon- 
don— 

"  Here  lies  the  body  of  Nancy  II.  Gwyn, 
Who  was  so  pure  within; 
She  burst  her  outer  shell  of  sin, 
And  hatched  herself  a  cherubim." 

Another  leading  singer  died  also,  Milliner.  There  were 
mourning  gossipers — "  let  us  go  and  see  to  this  funeral,  "  and 
Gabriel  was  more  extravagant  beyond  decency  to  those  who 
knew  her  whole  life  aud  he,  to  make  such  mockery  to  the 
truthful  minded-  is  an  outrage  upon  truth.  An  epitaph  will 
conclude  this : — 

At  Sarragossa,  Spain,  is  the  following  : 

"  Here  lies  John  Quehecce,  precentor  to  my  Lord  the  King.  When  he  ia 
admitted  to  the  choir  of  angels,  whose  society  he  will  embellish,  and  where  he 
will  distinguish  himself  by  his  power  of  song,  God  shall  say  to  the  Angels: 
"  Cease  ye  calves  !  and  let  me  hear  John,  Quebecce,  precentor  of  my  Lord  the 
King!"" 

Near  San  Diego,  California,  a  tombstone  thus  reads : 

"This  yere  is  sakrid  to  the  memory  of  William  Henry  Skaraken,  who  caim 
to  Ins  deth  by  bein  shot  by  Colts  revolver — one  of  the  old  kind,  bras  mounted 
and  of  sutch  is  the  kingdom  of  heavin.  " 

Last  summer  Charley  Belcher  died,  18  years  of  age,  a 
scholar  of  mine,  a  son  of  Temperance.  Gabriel  presided, 
reading  from  his  book  of  selections,  one  passage,  "  In  our 
Father's  house  there  are  many  mansions, "  Gabriel  had  a 
thought  strike  him,  then  and  there,  thus  :  "  that  even  in 
Heaven  there  was  a  place  for  Charley, "  &c.  I  retired  be- 
hind my  handkerchief,  and  his  remarks  brought  to  mind, 
"Then  you  do  think  the  Almighty  will  lot  Charley  a  three- 
legged  cricket,  or  small-sized  cigar  box  to  squeeze  in  some- 
where, perhaps."  Gabriel  always  has  his  special,  fancied 
friends.     Charley,  I  knew,  was  prepared  to  meet  his  God  in. 


157 

peace,  and  Gabriel  disgusted  rne  there.  Mrs.  Porter  has 
often  told  of  a  certain  member  of  his  church  saying  his  fu- 
neral poetry — it  seemed  to  her,  as  he  stretched  them  on 
and  on,  like  bobbin  on  the  tail  of  a  kite.  Reader,  I  hope  the 
earthly  Gabriel  will  profit  from  the  above,  if  Congregation- 
alists  will  countenance  him  after  a  knowledge  of  the  follow- 
ing proceedings,  written  in  this  book  : 

Thursday.  Sept.  21th. — At  "Worcester,  Jenks,  Nye,  Bates, 
Bacheller,  in  the  cars,  happy  as  angels  of  "  darkness,"  I 
noticing  every  look,  wink,  or  wag. 

At  Spencer,  before  "Worcester,  to  see  about  publishing  the 
railroad  proceedings,  which  are  herein  mentioned.  I  am 
told  that  North  Brookfield  "  wants  this  affair  hushed  up." 
I'll  be  your  bondsman  for  that !  The  way  it  will  be  hushed 
on  my  part  will  be  to  print  in  pamphlet  form  their  illegal 
diabolical  proceedings,  and  thus  spread  the  same  from  pole 
to  pole.  I  expect  to  be  murdered  by  that  gang  and  mob, 
but  God  grant  the  delay  of  the  same  may  be  till  the  truth 
has  gone  forth  to  accomplish  that  which  cannot  be  reached 
in  our  courts,  now  in  custody  of  money  and  not  law. 

At  "Worcester,  to  see  and  have  my  profile  altered,  as 
promised,  and  bars  and  trees  arranged  by  exact  measure 
by  the  surveyor  of  the  plan  of  the  map  herein.  "  Said  sur- 
veyor is  in  the  south-east  or  west  part  of  the  State,"  I  am 
told  by  the  clerk.  "  As  said  place  is  somewhat  latitudinal, 
can't  you  tell  when  he  will  be  back  from  that  large  place?" 
"  He  will  be  gone  about  three  months,  engaged  ;  he  will  be 
on  at  times."  "Please  tell  him  I  was  here  to-day  for  him 
to  put  bars,  &c,  on  the  map,  as  he  agreed  to  do  willingly 
and  readily,  and  expect  him  to  do  the  same,  and  give  reasons 
for  your  direction  of  his  whereabouts,  which  to  me  means 
cents  on  the  eyes." — Gone. 

In  less  than  one  hour  after  reaching  my  own  house  in 
North  Brookfield  I  was  on  my  way  back  to  "Worcester  ;  bag- 
gage— a  change  of  under-clotbes  and  one  extra  basque. 

Saturday,  Sept.  29th. — I  am  boarding  at  91  Sands  street, 
Brooklyn,  N.  Y.    Having  made  all  arrangements  for  printing 


158 

pamphlets,  and  having  made  part  payment  before  leaving, 
telegraphing,  and  telling  in  every  place  my  fugitive  condi- 
tion, sympathy  and  listening  ears  to  every  word,  and  it  has 
proven  there  was  not  a  "  Judas  "  among  the  crowds  of  audi- 
ence.    But  "  God  assist  you !"  came  from  many  a  lip. 

Many  pages  of  this  book  are  written  and  given  to  the 
press,  and  God  grant  that  every  line  may  accomplish  that 
for  which  it  is  heralded,  and  bring  reform  out  of  chaos,  light 
out  of  darkness,  is  the  prayer  of 

E.  E.  Hill. 

E.  E.  Hill, 

Sept.  29th,  a.m.,  1877. 

At  Westminster  Hotel  (for  I  am  a  fugitive,  confidentially), 
New  York  City,  N.  Y. 

(Telegram.) 
C.  E.  Jenks, 

North  Brookfield,  Mass. 

I  waive  examination.  Call  on  Erasmus  Haston  and  T. 
Horrigan  for  bonds. 

Elizabeth  E.  Hill. 

E.  E.  Hill, 

Oct.  8th,  1877. 

At  Western  Union  Telegraph  Office. 

New  York  City,  N.  Y. 

(Telegram.) 

District-Attorney  Staples, 

Worcester,  Mass. 

Put  over  my  appealed  cases.  It  is  impossible  to  be 
present. 

Elizabeth  E.  Hill. 

October  13th,  v.  M. — In  New  York  City,  searching  all  news- 
paper offices  for  Massachusetts  news.  I  am  at  last  di- 
rected to  Geo.  P.  Eowell  &  Co.'s  newspaper  agency,  and, 


159 

calling  for  thrco  last  issues  of  Spencer    Sun,  Mass.,  I  find 
the  following  : 

"  Mrs.  E.  R.  Hill's  barn  was  discovered  to  be  on  fire  on 
Saturday  evening  by  the  engineer  on  the  8.30  r.M.  train.  An 
alarm  was  immediately  sounded,  and  the  engines  were 
promptly  on  hand,  but  it  was  past  control  when  they  ar- 
rived, and  all  they  could  do  was  to  protect  the  house.  It 
was  the  work  of  an  incendiary,  and  the  selectmen  have 
offered  a  reward  of  $500  for  information  that  will  detect 
the  criminal." 

(Telegram.) 

New  Yoek  City,  Oct.  13th,  1877. 

To  Dr.  Warren  Tyler, 

North  Brookfield,  Mass.  : 

For  God's  sake  protect  my  house,  and  all  therein,  safe. 

Elizabeth  E.  Hill. 

Reader,  in  this  sketch-book  I  bring  forth  facts  which  ex- 
hibit individuals  who  are  figuring  for  my  weal  or  woe,  as 
you  may  see  ;  and  the  unavoidable  inevitables  which  the 
wickedness  of  men  have  hurled  me  into  are  mysterious  and 
appalling ;  still  they  come,  fiery,  fierce,  causing  a  wail  of 
woe  to  burst  forth,  arising  from  the  very  citadel  of  my  being. 
"What  meaneth  it?"  I  point.  "Mrs.  E.  R.  Hill's  barn 
was  discovered  on  fire  on  Saturday  evening  by  the  engineer 
on  the  8:30  p.  m.  train.  An  alarm  was  immediately  sounded 
and  the  engines  were  promptly  on  hand ;  but  it  was  past 
control  when  they  arrived,  and  all  they  could  do  was  to  pro- 
tect the  house.  It  was  the  work  of  an  incendiary,  and  the 
selectmen  have  offered  a  reward  of  $500  for  information  that 
will  detect  the  criminal." 

I  am  Mrs.  E.  R.  Hill — oh — oh  !  the  cup  runneth  over  ;  I 
am  a  fugitive  from  that,  my  native  place,  by  that  ruthless 
mob  which  you  see  are  still  rampant.  The  extract  is  cut  for 
me  from  the  paper  ;  I  pass  out  in  the  street  writhing  in 
despair ;  I  see  a  policeman  ;  I  ask  him  to  show  me  to  the 
telegraph  office  ;  with  all  kindness  I  am  aided  along.     Oh, 


1G0 

my  God,  wilt  thou  protect  me  from  that  unsatiated  railroad, 
masonic  frenzy.  Gliding  quickly  to  the  table,  I  despatch, 
"  Dr.  Warren  Tyler,  North  Brookfield,  Mass.— For  God's 
sake  protect  my  house  and  all  therein  safe — Elizabeth  R. 
Hill."  At  the  delivery,  "How  soon  can  I  receive  an  an- 
swer ?  "     "About ."     "  Please  send  reply  to  91  Sands 

street,  Brooklyn,  my  place  of  abode — confidential — I  am  a  fugi- 
tive here  from  a  plotting,  intriguing  ring  who  are  hunting 
me  down  far  worse  than  any  blood-hounds  ever  read  about 
in  the  Southern  Confederacy." 

At   the    same   time  showing  my  "  extract   cut  from  the 
paper,"  "Are  you  insured?"  nothing  worth,  compared  with 
loss.     "We  will  deliver  your   message   when  returned,  in 
haste,"    I    passed    out ;    asked    policeman     to   aid    me   to 
Fulton  Ferry.     I  pass  through  the  crowds  in  the  cabin  to 
the   platform ;    the   wheel  has   stopped   rolling   over  head 
(laying   cable),  but  the  ponderous  wheel  in  the  deep  will 
soon  roll  me  stilly  across  the  river,  while  the  surging  bil- 
lows within  heave  moaning  like  the  ocean  that  cannot,  can- 
not rest.      "Saturday  evening,"  those  plotting  fiends  bent 
on  crushing  me  in  every  conceivable  way !     The  chain  is  un- 
locked, the  wheel  moves,  stilly,  noiselessly  I  am  gliding  o'er 
the  waves  of  the  deep,  while  the  waves  are  surging  moun- 
tains high  in  my  soul ! !      "  All  they  could  do  was  to  protect 
the  house."     My  house  must  be  riddled ;   that  barn  only 
nine  feet  from  the  house,  with  over  five  tons  of  hay  of  the  very 
best  quality  in  every  way,  nearly  half  a  tou  of  coal,  the  rest 
outside  in  abin  there ;  my  barrel  of  Henry  Ward  Beecher's  ser- 
mons, my  barrel  of  Christian  Unions,  my  barrel  of  Educational 
Journals,  and  other  periodicals  that  I  have  been  gathering 
for   the  last  eleven  or  twelve  years  ;   that  pure,  dry  hickory 
wood  and  piles  of  barrels  and  boxes  ;  that  barrel  of  pure 
cider   vinegar,  three  two-gallon  jugs   of  the   same ;  would 
that  mob  smell  of  that  vinegar  in  that  hot  flame?     My  fruit 
trees,  that  yield  from  $40  to  $80  per  year,  must  a  good  half 
of  them  be  ruined,  at  $100  or  $125  insurance,  I  know  not 
which.     Oh,  they  meant  to  burn  everything,  Mr.  Haston, 
there  they  could  not  refuse  the  engine.     Oh,  all  that  mob  are 


1G1 

sorry  for  is  tliat  I  was  not  in  the  centre   of  those  flames, 
just  as  they  had,  in  olden  time,  John  Rogers !  ! 

Where  did  my  white  doves  fly  to,  for  safety  from  those 
flames  ? 

The  time  is  not  now  the  "  dove  "  can  carry  the  news.  I 
am  landed  on  the  shore.  Oh,  my  God,  when,  oh  when,  shall 
I  be  landed,  safely  protected  from  that  infuriated  mob ! 
Oh,  how  much  street  dodging,  each  one  is  on  his  way  but 
me !  Oh,  God,  Thou  knowest  it  is  not  my  way.  Is  this 
Thy  way  ?  At  my  nice  quiet  city  home  I  ring ;  little  Lotty 
oj)ens,  I  kiss  her  through  the  thick  veil.  In  the  back 
parlor  (that's  my  rent  paid  for  room),  on  my  couch,  and  a 
fountain  of  tears  flowing  from  my  agonized  soul;  oh,  my 
burdens  seemed  more  than  I  could  bear  before  ! !  BellaH.  is 
at  the  piano  in  the  front  parlor  (her  usual  place  while  waiting 
for  tea),  it  comes  to  my  ear  from  her  fingers  touching  those 
keys,  "  Sweet  hour  of  Prayer,"  as  if  God  himself  had  di- 
rected her  for  my  need  !  It  soothed  and  calmed  my  spirit 
to  rest.  It  was  near  nine  o'clock  before  I  went  down  to  the 
dining-room,  and  there  rehearsed  my  tale  of  woe ! 

This  notable  day  is  October  13th — I  came  to  this  house 
September  29th.  Thus  two  weeks  have  passed  in  Brooklyn 
City. 

October  14th. — I  try  to  rise  from  my  couch  with  leaden 
weight,  affliction  chaining  me  down.  Oh,  I  cannot,  I  can- 
not rally  trom  this  added  shock  !  Oh,  my  God,  help  me  ! 
Guide,  oh,  guide  me  !  Thou  Great  Jehovah  !  !  !  Little 
Lizzie  H.,  at  the  piano  singing  and  playing  at  this  in- 
stant : 

Pull  for  the  shore,  sailor,  pull  for  the  shore  ! 
Heed  not  the  rolling  waves,  but  bend  to  the  oar  : 
Trust  in  the  life-boat,  all  else  will  fail, 
Stronger  the  surges  dash,  and  fiercer  the  gale  ; 
Heed  not  the  stormy  winds,  though  loudly  they  roar  ; 
"Watch  the  "  bright  morning  star,"  and  pull  for  the  shore. 
Pull  for  the  shore,  sailor,  pull  for  the  shore. 


162 

That  wave  of  despair  that  was  surging  mountain  high  to 
engulf  me  in  its  bosom — thus  that  little  ministering  angel 
stepped  forth  and  stayed  the  billows.  I  rose  and  wept  with  joy 
for  this  sudden  calm.  Oh,  true,  how  true,  it  is  said,  "  Of 
such  is  the  kingdom  of  heaven  !  " 

The  two  letters  written  30th  ult.,  to  friends  in  North  Brook- 
field,  not  stating  at  that  time  my  place  of  abode,  though  in 
the  very  same  parlor,  and  chair,  for  reasons  why,  you  well 
know. 

To-day  I  write  two  letters  to  North  Brookfield,  one  to 
Spencer,  one  to  St.  Catherines,  full  of  anguish,  but  sup- 
pressed by  the  above  "  ministering  "  Lizzie. 

O  my  pamphlet ;  with  this  new  woe  to  hinder  me  getting 
my  proofs  together,  oh,  what  a  fiery  link  this  !  help  !  help  ! 
Thou  my  only  Guide  !  Mr.  Hutchinson  takes  my  letters  to 
post.  A  tall,  thin  gentleman,  of  very  few  ivords  ;  but  how 
he  speaks  :  "  Madam,  be  comforted  ;  be  thankful  those  ter- 
rible men  did  not  have  you  consumed  with  your  buildings. 
Go  on,  finish  your  book,  that  it  may  preach  from  pole  to 
pole."  ("  Mrs.  H.")  Write  Mrs.  Hill,  write  a  longer  ser- 
mon, than  that  little  French  Do  Be.  will  preach  to-day, 
to  die  with  utterance.  Yours,  to  help  emancipate  the 
world. 

October  15th,  2  o'clock  A.  M. — I  will  try  to  compile  a 
few  more  incidents  ere' I  reach  the  most  atrocious  savage 
cruelty  ever  given  to  a  human  being,  in  what  is  termed  a 
civilized  town.  The  tears  still  flow  to  think  of  the  devasta- 
tion of  my  quiet  home,  where  I  have  labored  with  my  hands 
with  great  skillful  executiveness,  where  three  of  my  children, 
boys,  were  born,  sickened,  and  died,  working  in  the  power 
of  my  might  for  the  best  interests  of  mankind,  in  church, 
sabbath  school,  my  absence  from  either  was  notice  of  sick- 
ness, contributing  to  the  needy  in  every  po3ition  of  life, 
without  asking  how,  or  what,  or  which  way.  Through 
what  or  which  society  can  I  promulgate  my  name  best  that 
I  did  so,  and  so  ? 


163 

(Telegram.) 

New  York  City,  Oct.  16,  1877. 

To  E.  Haston  &  L.  P.  De  Land, 

Insurance  Agent,  <fec, 

North  Brookfield,  Mass. : 

Shield  my  house  and  contents  from  the  insatiable  fiendish 
mob. 

Elizabeth  E.  Hill. 

Mrs.  E.  R.  Hill  is  reported  to  be  stopping  in  Canada. 

(Telegram.) 

New  Yobk,  Oct.  18th,  1877. 
To  Lutheb  P.  De  Land,    . 

Insurance  Agent, 

North  Brookfield,  Mass. : 

Is    my   house   burned    that    contents    were     removed? 
Answer  immediately. 

Elizabeth  B.  Hill. 

Not  one  answer  sent  I  !  1     My  first  telegram  was  to  be 

sent  to  my  place  of  abode  confidentially,  as  I  was  a  fugitive 

from  my  native  town,  North  Brookfield,  Mass.,  driven  by 

the  Railroad-Masonic-J)eBevoise  mob.     Never  was  a  slave 

in  the  Southern  Confederacy  hunted  down  by  bloodhounds 

with  more  brutal  ferochVy  than  the  rings  above  mentioned 

are  seeking  to  destroy  me — morally,  mentally,  physically, 

financially  !  !  !  — all  to  cover  their  own  sins,  and  to  get  the 

dollars. 

Elizabeth  B.  Hill. 

Strangers  are  very  kind — their  sympathy  evidently  helps 

sustain  me  in  this  awful  hour ! 

E.  R.  H. 

October  20th. — A  letter  from  North  Brookfield.    I  kissed  it 
over  ;  I  well  knew  whose  pen  had  written  that  message.     I 


161 

stayed  long  reading,  and  telling  the  ray  of  hope  just  come 
that,  perhaps,  some  of  my  sacred  relics,  and  earnings  of  my- 
self  an  1  oldest  son,  were  saved. to  me  a  little  longer,  that  I 
may  look  ujum  some  token  of  the  loved,  lost,  ere  that  fiendish 
mob,  by  some  ag  nt  of  their  own  number,  will  end  my  life, 
as  Abraham  Lincoln.  "  Oh,  lady  ;  not  so  bad  as  that,  I 
hope."  They  will  not  stop  till  it  is  done!  They  meant  to 
take  my  only  home,  knowing  well  I  had  no  money  to  replace 
my  loss,  the  insurance  not  being  one  tenth  the  loss  ! 

Tiie  many  that  have  beard  my  fugitive  story  are  anxiously 
watching  the  news  when  it  comes.  To  every  one  I  show 
my  letter,  and  its  contents  read. 

Across  tie  river,  I  rapidly  reach  my  home.     Letter  first 

in  the  hall  taken  by  Mrs.  II .     "News  from  Sodom?" 

"Yes;  but  from  that  one  that  is,  ' peradventure,  to  save  the 
city!'1  She  says  my  barn  was  burnt  at  8  o'clock  in  the 
evening;  the  house  not  harmed;  crowds  were  there,  and 
on  the  Sabbath  day  the  hay,  <fec,  burning  till  Monday. 
Oh !  my  God  !  wilt  thou  not,  as  of  old,  through  thy  om- 
niscient and  omnipresent  power,  bring  him  forth  unmistak- 
able, to  meet  that  justice  he  so  richly  deserves.  I  feel,  I 
know,  as  if  God  himself  had  told  me,  it  is  direct  from  the 
DeBevoise  mob's  disappointment.  Oh,  God!  hasten  "Thy 
time  "  to  bring  that  fiend  to  the  same  dwelling  where  Samp- 
son now  resides,  who  burned  George  Tyler's  barn  at  "West 
Brookt  'lass.,  1875,  because  he  was  refused  a  glass  of 

cid  'my  nate  grandfather's  barn) — 4  to  6  fat  oxen,  30  tons 
of  hay,  pig-;,  sheep  and  fatlings,  besides  working  horses,  and 
no  h  suranje. 

Sunday,  0  t.  21<s',  5:30  a.m. — There's  that  black  cat,  that 
ate  my  beefsteak  for  me,  yesterday  morning.  How 
stealthily  she  moves;  she  climbs  the  railing  on  the  piazza, 
her  white  paws  upon  the  Wiuaow  pane  (so  like  white 
gloves) ;  that  white  paw  feels  for  "  that  entrance,"  her  black 
nose  touches  the  glass,  with  white  paw  aiding  her,  to  her 
utmost  stretch,  showing  the  white  breast  (so  much  like  a 
white  apron)  ;  she  can't  enter ;  disappointed,  she  climbs 
down  the  railing,  scenting,  I  w ill  find  something. 


165 

Black  cat,  with  white  paws,  and  breast,  you  remind  me  of 
the  treatment  I  have  and  am  receiving  from  some  citizens 
in  North  Brookfield,  Mass. 

October  23d— This  morning,  at  Pettingill  &  Co.'s,  I  find 
the  following : 

NORTH    BROOKFIELD. 

The  barn  of  Mrs.  E.  11.  Hill  was  burned  Saturday  night 
by  an  incendiary,  and  her  house,  near  by,  was  saved  by  the 
firemen  only  with  great  difficulty,  loss  |300,  partly  insured. 
Mrs.  Hill,  the  only  occupant  cf  the  place,  was  out  of  town 
at  the  time.  She  was  to  be  tried  by  Justice  Jenks  on  Satur- 
day, on  the  charge  of  mutilating  valuable  trees  in  the  Wal- 
nut Grove  Cemetery.  Constable  Bothwell,  who  has  held  a 
warrant  against  her  since  last  Thursday,  but  did  not  arrest 
her,  as  she  was  supposed  to  be  a  home  body,  and  not  liable 
to  be  called  out  of  town,  only  notified  her  to  appear  on 
Saturday.  She  was  in  town  on  Friday,  but  on  Saturday 
morning,  as  the  court  was  about  to  open,  a  telegram  from 
New  York,  signed  "E.  U.  Hill,"  was  received,  stating  her 
inability  to  be  present,  and  expressing  her  regrets. — Spring- 
field Union,  Oct.  1st. 

NORTH  BROOKFIELD. 

Mrs.  E.  R.  Hill's  barn  was  des  royed  by  fire  on  S  Uurday 
evening.  The  trial  of  Mrs.  E.  11.  Hill,  which  was  to  have 
taken  place  on  Saturday,  was  postponed,  as  Mrs.  Hill  was 
unexpectedly  called  out  of  the  State.  Constable  Bothwell, 
who  held  a  warrant  against  her  two  days  before  she  left 
town,  depended  upon  her  word  to  appear  before  the  trial 
justice.  Mrs.  Hill  is  charged  with  mutilating  valuable  trees 
in  Walnut  Grove  Cemetery.  Putting  the  fire  and  the  court 
cases  together,  the  people  of  the  town  express  the  belief 
that  the  former  was  the  result  of  an  attempt  to  create  sym- 
pathy for  Mrs.  Hill  outside  the  town  limits. —  Worcester  Spy. 

Mrs.  E.  R  Hill  is  to  be  tried  in  Town  Hall  this  morning 
at  ten  o'clock,  before  Justice  Jenks,  for  mutilating  trees  in 
Walnut  Grove  Cemetery.  Geo.  F.  Verry  is  for  the  prosecu- 
tion.— North  Brookfield  Journal,  Sept.  2dlh. 


166 

An  outrageous  piece  of  vandalism  was  committed  at  "Wal- 
nut Grove  Cemetery  about  a  week  ago,  upon  tho  lots  of  JXev. 
G.  H.  DeBevoise,  Asahel  Barlow  aud  Mr.  Doaue.  The 
limbs  of  trees  on  these  were  cut  from  the  trunk  to  within  a 
few  feet  of  the  top,  on  the  side  facing  the  lot  of  Mrs.  E.  It. 
Hill,  on  which  she  has  just  placed  a  monument.  The  trees 
are  ruined  as  objects  of  beauty,  and  their  growth  in  the 
future  probably  checked.  Great  indignation  is  felt  in  town, 
and  all  will  be  gratified  to  learn  that  the  perpetrators  will  be 
brought  to  justice. — North  Brookjield  Journal,  Sept.  2.9th. 

These  objects  of  beauty  are  the  town's  acknowledged 
nuisance. 

Mrs.  E.  B.  Hill's  buildings  were  fired  at  8  o'clock  in  the 
evening,  thus  having  a  torch  light.  Was  it  to  pay  for  not 
having  a  court?  There  are  more  than  fifty  that  ought  to 
be  examined  by  insurance  agents.  I  demand  they  investi- 
gate that  fire,  set. 

Mr.  Editor: — We  would  like  to  inquire  of  the  law-abiding 
and  peace-loving  citizens  of  North  Brookfield,  if  it  is  not 
about  time  to  put  a  veto  upon  such  vandalism  and  abuse  as 
has  been  carried  pn  with  a  high  hand  in  our  town  of  late  ? 
I  should  say  so,  if  there  is  any  virtue  in  law  and  it  be  any- 
thing more  than  mere  form.  If  a  procession  of  mourning 
friends;are  to  be  hooted  at  and  blackguarded  as  the}'  carry 
their  dead  to  his  last  repose,  and  even  the  cemetery,  the 
place  above  all  others  we  hold  in  reverent,  tender  regard,  is 
to  be  desecrated  in  such  a  malicious  manner,  we  believe  it 
high  time  the  perpetrators  were  brought  to  justice,  and  pre- 
vented from  venting  their  malice  any  further. 

X.  Y.  Z.  et  al. 
— Nc/rth  Broolc/ield  Journal,  Sept.  29th. 

Bloat,  hitch  on — Alpha  and  Omega — that  is  not  enough, 
<fec.  You  must  not  speak  out  loud  and  protect  your  own 
property  from  tho  above  writer,  who  is  going  to  take  my 
last  cent  to  build  up  his  own  false  chow.  Did  you  tip  over 
and  smash  those  monuments  in  your  haste  to  rush  the 
building  of  tho  rnilroad  through  that  sacred  set-apart  Best. 
needlessly  desp  ling  the  same  ? 


1G7 

Kev.  Mr.  DeBevoise  preached  a  timely  and  interesting 
sermon  on  the  text,  "We  all  do  fade  as  a  leaf,"  Sunday 
morning. — North  Broohfield  Journal,  Oct.  Gfh. 

Said  DeBevoise  looked  awfully  faded  (more  so  than  a  leaf) 
on  the  Saturday  morning  before,  with  temper. 

A  telegram  received  from  Mrs.  Hill,  Saturday,  waiving  an 
examination,  put  an  end  to  the  anticipations  01  the  crowd 
ready  to  attend  the  trial,  and  now  it  seems  very  uncertain 
when  it  will  come  off.  "  A  bird  in  the  hand,"  &c. — North 
Broohfield  Journal,  Oct. 

But  you  had  the  gathering  at  8  P.  m.,  torch  light,  &c. 

The  quiet  of  the  town  was  disturbed  about  8:30  p.  M.  last 
Saturday,  by  an  alarm  of  fire  caused  by  the  burning  of  Mrs. 
E.  R.  Hill's  barn.  As  the  builing  was  small,  and  well  filled  with 
hay,  the  fire,  by  th.3  time  the  engines  arrived,  had  acquired 
such  headway  that  it  was  impossible  to  extinguish  the 
flames,  and  owing  to  the  limited  supply  of  water,  all  efforts 
were  directed  to  save  the  house.  As  the  premises  have  been 
unoccupied  for  the  last  week,  the  fire  was  doubtless  the  work 
of  an  incendiary.  The  loss  is  not  half  covered  by  insurance. 
The  selectmen  have  taken  the  matter  in  hand  promptly,  and 
offer  five  hundred  dollars  reward  for  information  that  will 
lead  to  the  conviction  of  the  parties  setting  the  fire. — North 
Broohfield  Journal,  Oct. 

That  means  the  reverse,  reader,  as  my  experience  with 
said  town  can  prove. 

The  insurance  on  the  property  destroyed  is  $165.  The 
loss  is  nearer  $1,500  than  $1,000. 

If  some  of  those  persons  who  are  so  loud  and  indignant 
in  their  condemnation  of  the  despoilers  of  trees  and  shrubs 
in  the  cemetery  would  desist  from  walking  over  and  stand- 
ing upon  graves  and  graded  lots,  they  would  evince  much 
better  tast  and  at  the  same  time  be  more  consistent. — North 
Broohfield    ournal. 


168 

How  about  that  mysterious  axe,  ladder,  and  saw  ? — North 
Brookfield  Journal,  Oct.  13th. 

I  bought  and  paid  for  the  above  mysterious  implements  in 
a  hardware  storo  in  Brooklyn,  and  expected  to  be,  or  to 
have  been,  in  a  few  days,  at  my  own  home,  to  have  them  in 
use,  and  not  borrow  in  my  hurrying,  building,  gathering 
fruit,  &c.  The  ladders  were  stairs,  and  the  latest  issue,  and 
expensive.  But  you  keep  me  at  bay.  You  want  the  whole 
to  burn  up.  It  was  God's  providence  that  the  fire  was 
squelched. 

The  witnesses  in  the  case  of  the  Commonwealth  vs.  Mrs. 
E.  B.  Hill,  were  before  the  Grand  Jury,  Tuesday. — North 
Brookfield  Journal,  Oct  20th. 

What  caso  is  there  before  the  Grand  Jury?  Is  it  the 
fiend's  burniug  of  my  property  ? 

Mrs.  Hill  has  been  heard  from.  Sheriff  DeLand  has  re- 
ceived a  telegram  asking  him  to  protect  her  house  from  the 
"  fiendish  and  insatiable  mob,"  and  another  inquiring  if  it 
was  yet  burned. — North  Brookfield  Journal,  Oct.  20th. 

Asking  Insurance  Agent  Deland  if  my  house  was  burned, 
so  that  f/te  contents  were  removed,  and  requesting  an  anwer 
irnmr  dmlely.     No  reply. 

October  25th. — At  George  P.  Eowell  &  Co.'s  I  find  a  letter 
from  North  Brookfield.  M}^  heart  leaps  with  joy  to  hear 
from  a  friend. 

NORTH   BROOKFIELD. 

The  selectmen  have  offered  $500  reward  for  the  convic- 
tion of  the  parties  who  set  fire  to  Mrs.  E.  B'.  Hill's  barn  some 
time  since,  and  there  are  lots  of  folks  who  think  they  know 
who  did  it.  Mrs.  Hill  has  disappeared  and  there  is  a  gen- 
eral desire  that  she  may  be  found,  so  that  the  public 
can  know  if  the  grand  jury  found  an  indictment  against 
her. — Spencer  Sim,  Oct.  19th. 


169 

Grand  Jury  found  an  indictment  for  what? — for  the  fiends 
burning  my  building  for  a  torch-light  gathering  ? 

Imagine,  reader,  for  a  moment  my  feelings  on  reading  the 
above  !  Driven  from  my  hard  earned,  little  cosy  home,  among 
those  with  whom  not  one  live  being  was  found  I  had  ever 
seen  before,  except  through  knowledge  of  books.  My  ex- 
penses more  a  day  than  has  been  my  allowance  per  week  at 
home.  Aside  from  what  my  inheritance  gave  me,  there  is 
not  a  foot  of  land  in  my  possession  but  that  is  teeming 
with  sacred  associations,  that  is  a  society  in  memory's  hall. 
And  to  think  those  low  minded  reporters,  banded  together 
with  the  railroad  masonic  DeBevoise  gang,  which,  on  the 
evening  after  that,  to  be  at  DeBevoise's  court,  in  their 
manaical  disappointment  at  not  having  a  chance  to  gloat, 
persecute,  crush,  and  defame  an  upright,  moral,  law-abiding, 
lone,  divorced,  orphan,  educated  woman — burned  my  barn! 
But,  reader,  not  alone  in  that  little  cottage  where  my  loved 
children  were  born,  sickened,  and  died !  Every  room, 
every  corner  and  spot  an  association  of  those  loved,  lost, 
beautiful  boys.  That  barn  with  its  many  associations,  be- 
sides the  contents  heretofore  mentioned,  had  relics  removed 
there  not  six  weeks  previous  from  a  chamber  in  my  house  to 
give  place  for  a  black  walnut  chamber  set  bought  of  and  de- 
livered and  set  up  by  J.  B.  Lawrence  &  Co.,  Worcester, 
paying  $110  for  the  same,  and  placing  in  said  chamber  a 
chestnut  and  black  walnut  set,  bought  of  said  Lawrence  in 
1865,  paying  for  the  same  $65,  that  I  have  kept  sacred, 
which  were  to  be  placed  in  this  house  and  my  L  room,  on 
completion  ;  which  would  have  been  built  wall  around  my 
mowings  within  the  time  I  have  been  absent  from  my  own, 
my  native  soil,  and  have  comforts  to  make  me  comfortable 
in  my  old  age.  My  lumber-,  doors  with  green  glass  lights, 
windows  with  four  lights  of  glass,  shingles,  and  every  item 
for  said  building  bargained  for,  and  bdl  to  be  delivered  from 
Forbush  &  Co.  (and  a  lumber  dealer  next  door),  Worcester, 
cash  on  delivery.  That  money  I  had  planned  for  the  pay- 
ment of  the  above  is  spent  and  over  $200  more.  My  barn 
is  burned  and  not  one-tenth  covered  by  insurance,  to  say 
nothing  of  those  sacred  relics  that  money,  never,  no,  never 


170 

could  have  bought !  And,  reader,  that  barn  was  set  on  fire  by 
those  disappointed  fiends  who  were  gloating  upon  the  faree  of 
corruption  of  the  law  in  the  power  of  the  ignorant  and 
vicious.  That  will  call  forth  such  issues  as  the  above  notice 
seek  to  destroy  truth  and  virtue,  to  cover  their  own  sins 
and  punishable  crimes,  and  as  Christ  was  a  victim  for  simi- 
lar causes,  was  no  more  innocent  from  them  than  am  I  to 
day,  and  as  has  heretofore  been  arraigned,  belied,  falsified 
in  every  way  devisable,  because  I  defend  truth,  law,  justice, 
and  mercy.  And.  reader,  for  the  same  I  believe,  from  those 
vicious  spirits  the  above  alluded  to  gang,  my  life  will  be 
taken  as  Abraham  Lincoln,  John  Bunyan,  John  Brown, 
Jesus  Christ,  and  sundry  others  of  the  same  type,  come  to  a 
felon's  end.  Methinks  I  hear  some  of  my  my  readers  say  : 
"  How  about*  that  walnut  DeBevoise  tree."  This  is  just 
how :  "  Those  three  valuable  trees  above  alluded  to  are 
nearer  seventy-five  years  old  than  fifty — they  were  my 
father's  till  within  the  last  twenty  years,  and  he  sold  a  part 
of  a  walnut  grove  and  pastures  to  the  town — citizens  and 
grave  lot  owners  have  long  desired  the  removal  of  the  wal- 
nut trees,  because  ruthless  men  wander  upon  graves  gather- 
ing them  and  throwing  sticks,  clubs,  and  stones  to  bring 
the  walnuts/down.  The  fall  of  1875,  my  children,  in  their 
new  white  water  cemented  bricked  grave,  with  slate  slab 
lid — some  2|  feet  down  upon  top  of  which  was  basket,  axe, 
and  beetle  bags,  stones  here  and  there  upon  said  lot,  where 
the  boys  had  cracked  them,"  <fcc. 

The  ladder  on  DeBevoise's  lot  against  his  tree  which  had 
been  shaken.  My  lot  seemed  a  chosen  spot  for  their  refuse, 
&c.  Even  the  man  DeBevoise  kept  more  or  less  to  keep  his 
lot  in  good  repair,  would  lay  his  truck,  such  as  his  sickle, 
jacket,  basket,  and  often  the  fine  grass  would  be  placed  on 
my  monument  stand,  as  well  as  the  decayed  flowers  and 
toad  stools,  &c.  Two  boys  also  rolling  on  my  sacred  grave 
plot  not  two  weeks  before  I  left.  I  moved  those  implements, 
the  boys  went  without  assistance.  I  then  and  there  thought 
could  my  dead  boys  live  and  have  such  beastly  natures,  I 
should  have  had  reason  to  have  wished  them  dead.  Brewer 
aad  Perry  had  cut  all  of   the  walnut  trees  but  those  three, 


171 

Mr.  Doane  promising  to  cut  iiis  soon.  Barlow — nobody  had 
had  a  chance  to  tell  him  his  tree  was  to  be  cut,  though  all 
knew  he  would  be  glad  to  have  it  down,  DeBevoiso  resisting 
owing,  without  doubt,  in  part,  it  was  thought,  to  keep  his  son 
from  my  and  other  people's  lands. 

Scores  of  times  I  have  given  James  DeBevoise,  when 
asked,  permission  to  gather  nuts  gladly,  for  I  had  great  in- 
fluence over  him  when  other  teachers  had  failed.  Many  a 
time  have  school  recitations  been  learned  with  alacrity,  and 
committed  to  memory  by  my  instruction  and  with  the  an- 
ticipation of  getting  bushels  of  walnuts.  At  the  close  of 
school  we  would  hasten  to  my  walnut  grove,  and  those  boys 
would  shake  and  gather  walnuts,  not  forgetting  to  crack  and 
eat  them,  and  rolling  with  laughter  and  jesting  till  the 
vaults  of  heaven  would  ring  with  their  glee,  and  not  one 
among  them  enjoyed  it  more  than  I ;  and  those  boys  must 
remember  the  many  times  I  have  spoken  against  the  walnut 
trees  being  left  in  the  cemetery  where  graves  were  inhabited. 

Elisha  Perry  told  me  as  he  was  covering  Homer  R.  Prouty's 
remains  near  my  lot  :  "  That  they  were  going  to  cut  those 
trees  clown  ;  DeBevoise  objects,  but  he  will  have  to  submit  if 
you  complain  of  them  as  a  nuisance."  I  was  telling  him  that 
my  monument  was  to  be  erected  the  following  Tuesday.  It 
came  Saturday  A.  M.  before  that  time.  I  entered  my  com- 
plaint :  the  clubing  and  stoning  of  that  tree — the  other  two  are 
pig  walnuts,  not  gathered.  My  lot  sometimes  was  filled  with 
stones,  which  had  been  thrown  up  to  get  those  walnuts ;  this 
fall,  the  trees  bearing  well,  and  the  branches  filled  were  over 
my  grave. 

I  told  that  committee  of  selectmen  and  the  respectable 
citizens  I  could  not  nor  would  not  permit  such  performance 
upon  my  darlings'  graves.  They  all,  every  one  of  them, 
agreed  with  me,  and  said  they  ought  and  should  be  cut,  the 
committee  telling  me  to  enter  my  written  protest  and  com- 
plaint against  the  same,  demanding  them  to  be  cut  at  once, 
as  I  suggested.  According!}'  I  wrote  to  DeBevoise,  Doane, 
and  Barlow,  also  grave  yard  committee,  which  has  been 
heretofore  printed. 

The  committee  came  not  to  my  assistance,  though  being 


172 

specially  sent  for,  as  my  monument  was  delivered.  That 
committee  knew  well  those  boughs  would  have  to  come  off ; 
thus  they  staid  back,  ignominiously  using  me  as  an  imple- 
ment to  bring  about  what  they  all  wished  done,  but  had  not 
quite  backbone  enough  to  tell  De  Be.  it  should  be  done, 
though  not  one  of  them,  as  they  have  expressed  to  me  here- 
tofore, had  a  particle  of  ministerial  respect  for  what  I  call 
the  simple-minded,  pugilistic  earthy  Gabriel.  The  young 
man  who  trimmed  those  branches  had  done  the  same  upon 
trees  in  cemeteries  iu  other  places.  Said  young  man  cut  the 
branches  shorter  than  the  law  provides.  Said  point  of  law 
I  never  had  investigated,  though  my  walnut  trees  had  been 
trimmed  by  graveyard  committee  in  18G7.  I  have  not 
noticed,  but  they  are  certainly  cut  upon  my  land  with  more 
of  that  trespass ;  also  telegraph  ivires  and  poles  have  been 
removing  branches  with  trespasser's  sickle.  Also  railroad 
cut  into  trees  out  of  the  line,  &c. 

Reader,  those  walnut  trees  were  not  ornamental  shrubs. 
They  were  a  hideous  nuisance  to  the  sincere  mourner  and 
sensitive,  refined,  loving  heart ;  (but  to  the  coarse,  the 
vicious  who  are  ready  to  filch,  and  destroy  character,  grave- 
stones, rob  one  of  their  land  illegally,  and  defy  humanity  iu 
every  way  thus.  We  have  got  the  money,  you  have  not,  to 
bring  a  successful  issue  in  court,  as  money  rules,  and  not 
law  and  unimpeachable  evidence).  Siuce  the  war !  Re- 
member, reader,  the  different  representations  in  the  slips, 
the  blackening  calumny.  The  hideous  falsification,  pur* 
posely  to  tarnish  my  name  if  possible,  and  shall  I  not  have 
the  privilege  to  vindicate  my  character  thoroughly  ?  When 
money  controls  the  newspapers — to  publish  the  false  repre- 
sentations— and  not  one  line  for  me  would  those  illegal 
railroad  trespassing  hordes  permit  on  my  part;  nor  even  a 
lawyer  is  there.  But  the  cents  are  closing  their  eyes.  Some, 
many  of  those  legal  men  are  iu  the  ditch  of  illegal  advice, 
as  report  has  it,  and  is  evident  by  the  evading  and  close ; 
and  let  E.  R.  Hill  bear  the  contumely  of  being  arrested  and 
imprisoned  in  a  felon's  cell,  and  other  warrants,  if  I  should 
break  or  cut  one  of  the  branches  that  grow  over  my  land. 
Bothwell  saying,  "  They  don't  hurt  your  land,"  &c.     I  can't 


173 

have   law  and  truth  vindicated   in  North   Brookfield,   nor 
anywhere  else,  when  the  purse  can  buy  men  in  authority. 
History  has  not  upon  record  such  open  violation  as  I  can 
prove  in  nay  railroad  case — my  false  imprisonment  case — 
the  DeBevoise    case  for  "  mutilating  valuable   trees,"   <fcc. 
Oh,  readers !  stop,  see  those  boys,  men  and  women,  throw- 
ing clubs  and  stones  upon  DeBevoise's  walnut  tree ;  they 
come  dov*  n  heavily  on  our  darlings'  grave.    How  many  sticks 
and  clubs  there  lie  that  have  pelted  them  down,  down  in  the 
grave ;  so  low,  mamma  can't  hear  their  wail ;  but  she  sees 
the  clubs  and  stones  are  on  darlings'  grave  and  plot ;  those . 
mortals,  seared  ("as  with  a  red,  hot  iron"),  now  stand  on 
darlings'  grave,  and  jump   up   as  they  throw  the   club    at 
the    DeBevoise    tree    to   get   the   walnuts   the    other   side. 
Thus  they  are  stamping  darlings  down !     See  the  dripping 
upon  grave-stones — a  blackening  stain,  that  cannot  be  re- 
moved.    But,  reader,  see  DeBevoise  ready  with  his  might 
to  tarnish,   to    blacken   my  character,    as  you   see   he  has 
already  done,  for  a  simple  offence — an  offence  I.  would  not 
permit  to  have  been  done  had  I  known  that  line  measure. 
But,  thank  God,  it  reveals  Gabriel. 

G.  C.  Lincoln  and  family  moved  into  North  Brookfield 
some  fifteen  years  since.  Said  Lincoln,  being  fortunate 
in  being  Town  Treasurer  some  seven  or  eight  years,  used 
the  town's  money,  without  paying  interest,  during  said  time. 
Very  handy  change  for  starting  a  grocery  and  dry  goods 
business.  Such  handy  change  in  time  keeps  one  feeling 
strong.  He  gains  wealth  fast.  He  enlarges  his  phylacterie ; 
builds  and  owns  a  nice  house  ;  buys  his  young  and  promis- 
ing son  a  printing-press.  They  wax  fat,  and  kick  hot.  The 
little  son  was  horrified,  as  well  as  his  father,  at  my  writing 
DeBevoise  the  letter  in  this  book.  When  I  told  the  boy 
said  letter  should  be  published  from  polo  to  pole,  the  boy 
replied,  "That  would  be.  mean,"  <fec. 

Lincoln  has  a  son  named  Paul  Gabriel  DeBevoise  Lin- 
coln, as  report  has  it.  Paul's  father  is  one  of  the  select- 
men that  make  the  "  town's  indignation  at  the  mutilation  of 
those  valuable  trees,"  &c. 

Does  George  Lincoln  remember  the  times  ho  and  his  sis- 


174 

ter  and  James  DeBevoise  have  gathered  walnuts  in  my 
grove,  -without  permission  as  well  as  with  ?  Stop  and  con- 
sider the  falso  representations  that  small  sheet  has  sent  out. 
You  have  been  weighed  in  the  balance — and  are  found 
wanting.     Selah. 

But  as  it  seems  to  have  pleased  some  that  I  should  thus 
be  held  a  criminal  as  if  guilty  of  a  hideous  crime,  and  DeBe- 
vois •>  catching  at  this  straw  of  offense  to  aid  the  railroad 
Masonic  thieves'    f-*lso  imprisonment,  in  their    tumultuous 
iniquity,  he    rushes  for    judgment    against    me,   forgetting 
entirely  the  passages  "  forgiven  seventy  times  seven;"  "if 
thy  brother  take  thy  coat,  give  him  thy  cloak  also."     If  he 
strike  upon  the  right  cheek,  turn  the  left  for  another  crack  ! 
But  the  graveyard  nuisance,  the  $175   monument,  may  be 
blackened — the  little  marker  with  Willie,  Albert,  little  dar- 
lings Warren,  Walter,  and  the  mother's  prayer  on  the  other 
side  of  the  little  stone  !     "  Tread  softly  !  the  ground  is  holy. 
See  whose  grave  she  weepeth  o'er.     Lo,  the  simple  super- 
scription :     '  Little  Darlings  !' — nothing  more,"     Methinks 
DeBevoise  says  "  I'll  blacken  her  character,  and  compel  her 
to  surrender  her  last  dollar  to  us  and  our  aggrandizement." 
Yes,  Gabriel,  you  remind  me  of  a  narrow  capacity  tug-boat 
trying   to   tug   iniquitous    crafts    to    a   shore.     Tho    smoke 
comes  dense  and  dark  from  the  small  chimney.     Wiry,  those 
crafts  are  heavily  laden,  with  dark,  heavy  coal  weight — the 
black  smoke  is  fanned  by  the  breeze,  and  a  spark  is  in  that 
smoke.     The  wind  wafts  it  to  tho  barn.     It  blazes.     Those 
crafts  that  the  tug-boat  has  just  got  ashore  are  in  one  gang. 
Mrs.  Hill  we  shall  clean  out  to-night,  root  and  branch.     Oh, 
no  ;  God  is  there  in  the  presence  of  a  few  men.     The  engine 
must  be  worked.     The  flames  are  subdued.     And,  as  if  to 
carry  out   their  fiendish  longing,  through  every  periodical 
they  blaspheme  my  name.     And,  readers,  how  much  sin  was 
there  in  those  branches  being  cut  a  littlo  too  short,  compared 
with  the  sin  of  the  abstracter  of  money,  the  horse-killer,  the 
liar  and  hypocrite,  so  readily  forgiven — if  DeBevoise  even 
thought  they  had  sinned  ?     Look  at  my  crime.     My  name 
enrolled  as  it  is  above  in  items.     This,  reader,  is  the  way  I 
wish  for  truth  to  be  vindicated.     And  my  crime  in  having 


175 

the  monument  men  cut  those  limbs  too  short  was  through 
ignorance.      But   that   ignorance    shows  conclusively  what 
manner  of  spirit  dwells  in  the  breast  of  Gabriel  DeBevoise. 
Heaven  forbid  his  being  permitted   to  preach  long  without 
investigation.     Should   it   not  be  done,  I  can  speak  as  a 
prophet  that  congregational  piety  will  soon   be  numbered 
with  the  dead  ologies.     DeBevoise  has  never  been  the  man 
to  invite  me  to  his  church — my  old    liome.     And,  readers,  a 
scorpion's  whips  could  not  drive  me  into   either  church  in 
North  Brookfield  till  said  churches  'bide  the  covenant  obli- 
gations, which  are  used  there  when  they  will,  as  much  as  any 
horse  jockey  does  his  veracity.     I  will  here,  at   this  point, 
speak  of  a  church  discipline   case.     A.  Smith,  who   wras  ex- 
communicated under  the   ministry  of   Christopher  Cushing, 
and  Mr.  Smith's  own  words  to  me,  that  more  than  a  score  of 
written   sheets  of  foolscap  paper,  besides  church  meetings 
many  and  often,  to  try  to  get  the  wandering  sheep  back  in  the 
fold,  all  in  vain.     Thus  years  passed  away,  and  Smith  is  still 
without  the  fold  under  discipline.     Hurrah!  the  tug  boat  is 
going  to  land  Smith   in  the  harbor  of  the   church.     Smith 
gives  $350  towards  repairing  the  old  church.     The  tug  boat 
sends  him  clear  in  without  one  word,  as  report   has  it,  from 
Howe    and    Whiting,  but   it's  our  duty  to  receive  brother 
Smith  in  our  new  beginning,  our  dedication.     Let  us  all  ded- 
icate our  hearts  anew  to  God,  and  you  without  sin  throw  the 
first  stone.     How  does  that  compare  with  the  walnut  tree 
trimming   too    short.      But  there    is   another   point    here. 
Mrs.  Hill  must  be  subdued  and  not  let  that  railroad  pro- 
ceeding have  publicity.     We  must  squelch  her,  lose  no  time, 
ere  she  makes  publicity  of  our  traffic.    Put  up  the  sails.    We 
will  outride  her  in  this  gale.     Yes,  reader,  that  is  just  the 
reason,  and  none  other.     The  cause  of  my  imprisonment — 
the  cause  of  Gabriel's  low,  pugilistic,  almost  depraved  treat- 
ment of  me,  the  past  year — to  shield  that  crew  that  are  sup- 
porting him.      And  I  ask  prayerfully,  beseechingly,  ought 
I  not  have  this  public  way  of  vindicating  my  case  through 
law,  from  which  I  rushed,  telegraphing,  as   I  did,  in  season, 
to  Jenks,  that  morn  of  that  fatal  day.     That  savage  pow- 
wow I  nipped  in  the  bud.     I  have  told  my  fugitive  tale  from 


17G 

the  moment  I  was  one  mile  from  my  own  house  till  I  reached 
my  abode  in  Brooklyn  city.  And  I  believe  a  Judas  was  not 
a  hearer.  My  name  to  every  one  has  been  E.  K.  Hill.  As 
much  a  fugitive  from  North  Brookfield  as  any  slave  ever 
from  southern  domain,  or  Simms  in  Boston.  To  thwart  this 
diabolical  plot  of  citizens  to  prevent  my  being  able  to  set 
forth  the  North  Brookfield  illegal  proceedings  in  becoming 
an  associate  in  building  the  North  Brookfield  railroad ; 
also  taking  6|-  per  cent,  of  her  valuation  for  the  payment  of 
the  same.  Their  noncompliance  with  the  statutes,  in  the 
taking  of  my  land  for  railroad  bed,  their  forbidding  of  my 
removing  posts  upon  my  land.  They,  those  ring  men,  were 
ready  to  bind  me  hand  and  foot  by  calumny  and  poverty, 
strip  me  of  my  all.  And,  reader,  this  truth  I  send  forth  to 
vindicate  the  three  issues  pending  in  the  courts  at  Worces- 
ter, where  I  cannot  have  the  least  show  of  chance  with 
those  masonic  war  officers.  There  is  not  a  chance  to  stand 
against  them,  only  by  this  truth  being  spread,  and  wise  men 
from  without  to  show  to  the  world  my  justification  in  vindi- 
cation of  the  statutes.  If  North  Brookfield  can  sink  their 
town  into  debt  6|  per  cent,  of  its  valuation,  become  an 
associate  corporation,  rob  people  of  their  land  as  they  will 
for  their  best  party  pockets,  trampling  under  foot  humanity, 
ignoring  the  statutes  in  divers  ways — if  it's  North  Brook- 
field's  privilege  to  do  this,  why  not  every  other  town  in  the 
Union?  Reader,  I  demand  the  statute  laws  to  be  enforced, 
and  whoever  tramples  them  under  foot  to  be  dealt  with  as 
their  crime  deserves  —  ever  balancing  with  justice  and 
mercy. 

My  book  has,  through  necessity,  been  lengthened  to  one- 
third  more  than  purposed,  and  my  expenses  also.  I  was 
home  Sabbath  day  (4th  November),  at  my  cottage,  for 
clothes  and  insurance  papers,  and  a  few  tokens  of  the  loved 
and  lost.  Oh,  destruction  !  Oh,  sin  !  Oh,  my  God  !  why 
oh,  why,  hast  thou  chosen  me  a  battle-axe?     Why  driven 

From  the  cot  of  my  fathers ;  among  strangers  to  dwell? 
cans't  Thou,  wilt  Thou  not  bring  good  out  of  this  evil? 
light  out  of  this  darkness  ?  Thou  who  ridest  amidst  this 
storm.     How  bold  they  talk,  and  act !     Perchance  'tis  meet 


177 

for  them  to  treat  me  thus  !  "They  demand  my  lip  keep 
silence  !  ! !  '  Thus  I  answer  these  dark  coarse  plots,  with 
my  pen's  diamond  point,  tracing  their  awful  doings — Thou 
God  abuve  canst  make  them  retire  abashed  ! 

"  Thy  power  is  far  more  vast  than  finite  mind  can  scan.  Thy  mercy  is  still 
greater  shown  to  weak,  dependant  man." 

Sabbath  morn  8.0O  a.  m.  I  stepped  out  of  the  cars  in  that 
great  "  Union  Depot,"  at  Worcester.  Out  of  it — off.  How 
cold,  frozen  ground,  ice  spitting  snow  flakes!  How  dreary, 
as  if  all  were  frozen  in  the  heart.  I'll  search  for  a  soul 
that  ain't  frozen,  that  ain't  seared  as  with  a  red  hot  iron  to 
get  money — who  in  their  haste  break  down  every  obstacle  that 
will  retard  their  aspirations.  They'll  crush  whether  man, 
woman  or  child  ! ! !  Oh,  God,  keep  me,  this  thy  day  from 
those  maniac  hounds — I  turn  this  way  and  that,  to  get  di- 
rections to  a  place  I  have  been  once  before,  where  I  know 
I  left  souls  in  God's  image  some  weeks  since. 

I  ring  the  bell — a  familiar  face — the  door  opens — a  wide 
entrance.  But  oh  !  death  has  borne  its  suffering  victim,  who 
opened  wide  that  door  for  me  before  .(welcoming  me  in  with 
God's  blessing)  to  that  bourne  from  whence  no  traveller  re- 
turns !  At  breakfast  table,  where  the  utmost  neatness,  and 
style  with  abundance  of  nice  and  choice  fooc£  with  sympa- 
thizing new  found  friends,  giving  to  me,  a  stranger  while  my 
own  town  neighbors  and  confederates  are  stripping,  rob- 
bing and  driving  me,  helpless  from  my  own  hard  earned  and 
inherited  sustenance  with  all  the  contumely  they  can  heap 
on  me  to  cover  their  own  illegal  sins,  and  diabolical  shame. 
In  going  to  the  above  place  I  pass  a  livery  stable ;  there  I'll 
apply  for  a  carriage,  driver,  to  convey  me  to  what  is  left  of  the 
fiend's  fire,  my  own  house.  We  are  off.  How  cold!  before 
one  mile  the  buffalo  has  to  be  wrapped  tight  about  me, 
with  fleet  horse  gliding  along  :  the  driver  too  is  suffering  with 
cold.  But  the  steed  is  hurried  on.  Ere  we  reach  the  vil- 
lage I  think  it  best  to  stop  at  a  farmer's  residence  where 
beast  and  man  can  be  provided  for,  &c. 

The  chill  has  done  its  work,  but  I  must  not  submit  to  its 
effects ;  I  goad  myself  on  for  the  nearing  scene.  We  are 
there.     The  driver  reins  his  horse,  and  waits. 


178 

That  warm  young  Irish  heart,  speak  not,  moves  not,  till  he 
is  asked.  I  was  surprised — the  windows  and  doors  and  roof 
of  my  house  remained  unburnt.  Oh  that  DeBevcise  courf 
disappointment  was  "  robbed  by  God's  special  interposi- 
tion of  part  of  its  torchlight  jubilee  they  meant  (as  Both- 
well  told  me  in  the  cell)  to  clear  everything  out  that  would 
be  a  reminder.  The  man  meant  to  get  my  last  dollar.  But 
rea  ler,  my  great  work  will  live  as  long  as  the  Bible,  and 
my  persecution  as  John  Brown's,  John  Bunyan's  and  many 
others. 

I  cannot — cannot  attempt  this  winter  to  face  that  ruin, 
and  if  satan  himself  had  been  divested  of  bis  every  attribute 
and  his  mantle  had  fallen  upon  a  few  making  themselves 
notable  by  illegal  traffic,  who  hates  the  sight  of  oue  who 
will  not  join,  or  countenance  their  bastard  estate,  and  glory, 
I  am  thus  compelled  by  them  to  kiss  this  token,  this  sacred 
spot,  gather  a  few  things  to  protect  me  from  the  cold,  and 
ere  I  get  my  trunk  half  filled  my  door  bell  rings.  I  say, 
please  go  to  the  other  door.  As  I  pass  along,  I  see,  oh,  hor- 
ror !  the  fiend  of  fiends,  that  false  imp  Sylvander  Bothwell. 
Young  man,  rush  and  lock  that  door,  don't  you  let  that  devil 
enter.  That's  the  fiend  who  assailed  me,  on  my  own  land  with- 
out cause,  without  warrant,  thrust  me  in  a  felon's  cell  to 
gloat  his  own  and  others'  malicious  design,  I  ordered  him 
from  my  premises.  He  stays,  walks  here  and  there,  making 
mock  of  me,  a  woman  who  never  violated  a  statute  law 
(only  my  monument  man  cut  that  old  walnut  tree  limbs  too 
short)  !  and  that  lying  whelp  of  sin,  that  trespassing  devil 
hanging  round  me  ;  there  is  not  a  convict  in  prison  on  God's 
footstool  that  deserves  that  sentence  more  than  the  above 
Bothwell.  His  name  defiles  the  page  I  write.  Is  there  no 
lav;  to  keep  that  trespasser  on  my  premises  ?  I  demand  him 
to  leave.  He  with  dripping  glands  says,  "  you  stop,  or  I'll 
arrest  you."  Reader,  can  I  not  go  in  to  my  own  house, 
and  order  this  or  any  other  trespasser  from  my 
premises  Sabbath  day,  without  the  threat  of  arrest  ?  The 
young  man  passes  out.  The  trespasser  says  to  the  young 
man  "  She's  crazy  as  sl\e  can  be,  she  ought  to  be  in  the 
hospital."    Yes,  reader,  my  telling  that  man  to  leave,— I  for- 


179 

bade  his  touching  or  stepping  upon  my  premises — would  bare 
put  me  in  the  Insane  Hospital ;  I  should  been  manacled  off. 
That's  the  state  of  mind,  that  the  illegal  proceeding  of  the 
railroad  iniquity  of  different  dyes  have  sunk  North  Brook- 
field  in.  To  be  hindered  thus,  I  cannot  call  to  Mr.  Haston 
to  my  father's  house,  to  babies'  grave.  Oh  God,  come 
quick  with  they  scythe  of  justice.  Strengthen  me,  Oh  God, 
in  the  power  of  thy  might  to  conquer  that  den  of  iniquity, 
that  marplot  of  corruption  under  the  banner  of  Christianity. 
Let  them  commune  and  go  away  from  that  communion  to 
crucify  their  Lord.  As  the  above  man  came  from  that  "set 
apart  blood"  to  goad  me  in  my  own  house,  that  man  had 
my  house  key  during  the  night  of  my  incarcaration  in  the 
felon's  cell — my  drawer  was  robbed  of  $70,  and  that  was  the 
most  trivial  offence  against  me  that  took'  place  during  the 
twenty  hours'  incarceration.  Do  you  think  that  man's  hand 
is  to  be  placed  upon  my  shoulder  at  every  flash  of  his  un- 
governable illiterate  temper?  I  ask  and  demand,  as  a 
law  abiding  truthful  female  citizen,  the  protection  of  the 
United  States  Court,  to  keep  from  harm  my  person,  my 
property,  from  those  who  are  vested  in  legal  authority  in 
Noith  Brookfield,  Massachusetts,  who  have  violated  and 
outraged  and  trespassed  the  statutes  of  Massachusetts  of 
decency,  of  humanity  !  I  am  not "  Simms  "  "  nor  one  of  old 
Lcgree  slaves,"  "  nor  Ginx's  Baby."  But  a  lad}'  or  female 
or  a  woman  somewhat  educated  ;  my  father  was  not  mov- 
ing from  "  Dan  to  Beersheba "  ;  but  owned  that  great 
farm  house  and  the  one  hundred  and  eighty  acres  of  land 
connected  with  it,  with  fruit  of  every  variety  in  our  youth- 
ful days,  and  the  forests  of  walnut  and  chestnut.  The 
hundreds  of  rock  maples — oh  those  sugar  hours  !  We  child- 
ren had  all  that  earth  could  give,  and  those  poor  menials 
that  have  come  in  from  other  States,  "  had  shelter  and 
board  in  that  house  without  pay,  but  your  welcome  boys, 
do  the  best  you  can."  Some  of  those  recipients  are  hound- 
ing me  to-day.  Methinks  I  hear  my  readers  saying.  "  Why, 
she  condemns  the  town  en  masse."  Reader,  how  can  I  speak 
otherwise?  The  three  selectmen  are  masons  ;  they  are  all 
located  within   thirty  rods  of  the  felons'   cell.     That  man 


180 

spoken  of  before,  has  thrust  men  into  the   cell  in  his  mad- 
man temper,  but  they  were  released  in  less  than  an  hour,  but 
an  educated,  law-abiding  self-respecting  person  at  all  times, 
aril  in  all  places  a  public  educator,  a  newspaper  reporter,  can 
be  thrust   into  a  felons'  cell,  because  she  said  upon  her  own 
land    a   gamblers'    funeral   horse   cannot    be  hitched  to  my 
bars.     I  untied  the  tie  rein  ;  I  did  not  move  a  horse,  I  did 
not  speak    above   my  usual   tone    only  when    calling  to  the 
nest  bars,  and  that,  in  voice   for  the  distance  required,  and 
no  higher.     The  disturbance  was  Both  well's  shouts,  seizing 
me  and  throwing  me  down   on  my  own  land,  and  carrying  me 
off  my  own  property  as  a  beast,  and  thrusting  me  in  a  felons' 
cell.     The  second  time  his  vile  hands  have  denied  my  physi- 
cal  frame,  and   agonized    my   sensitive   nature.      He   still 
continues  to  prowl  and  trespass  upon  my  land  ;  for  every 
time  of  illegal  outrage  and  trespass  I  demand  a  legal  hear- 
ing.    I  was  driven  from  Masachusetts  for  protection  in  this 
hour  of  peril  ;  and  Almighty  God  above  guided  the  fugitive 
E  II.  Hill  to  this  harbor.     Thus  the  appeal  from  Jenks  and 
Both  well,  is  to  be  met  in  the  Superior  Court.     My  waving 
the  DeBevoise   nuisance — "old   walnut  trees  cut  to  short 
branches  "  ;  is  to  have  hearing.     I  did  not  utter  one  word 
to  Bothwell,  when   he   told   me   he   had   a  warrant  for  my 
arrest,    and     another  all   ready,  if  I  cut  a  bough   from    a 
tree  hanging  over  my  land.     I  did  not  make  a  sound,  no 
more  than   Christ   did,  in  a  similar  time.     The  reason  given 
fur   his   not  speaking,    is,    "  that  we    might    have    an    all 
prevailing     plea";    the   reason    I   did    not   speak,    was,    I 
was    before  given  into   the  power    of    that  Bothwell,   and 
I    knew    enough    not    to    speak,  knowing    the    devil    was 
desirous  to  have  me,  "  that  he  might  sift  me  as  wheat;"  and 
God  was  permitting,  &c.  How  about,  run  away,  to  telegraph, 
as    the    dispatches  sent,  inform   the    readers.     Behold,  the 
black,  lying  scandal  those  newspaper  items  gull  out  !     North 
Brookfield  sent  news,  that,  they  meant  to  brand  me,  call   a 
court,  and  have  their  own  lawyer,  without  one  word  on  my 
part.     Header,  see  how  cut  and  dried  !      As  J.  Duncan  used 
my  name  maliciously  to  cover  over  an  error,  even  so  with  the 
North  Brookfield  Railroad  Corporation.  They  don't  want  their 


181 

fearful  violation  of  theistatutes  to  be  made  public,  and,  as  I  am 
the  only  mortal  woman  outside  of  the  rings 'in  that  town  who 
can  report  and  can  tell  coherently  what  has  been  said  in  pub- 
lic meetings,  &c,  this  makes  me  a  dangerous  person,  like 
those  spoken  of  in  the  Bible.  A  heavy  lawsuit  was  to  be 
brought,  forbidding  that  illegal  railroad  debt  to  be  pad 
out  of  the  tax-payers'  purses,  but  letting  the  directors 
pay  for  their  own  monstrosity,  that  was  making  them  o 
great  and  rich.  I  have  more  reason  to  pay  homage  and 
respect  to  the  Northampton  bank  robbers  than  to  the  North 
Brookfield  Railroad  men.  That  railroad  proceeding,  if  leic 
unchecked  and  unrebuked,  would,  or  is  enough  to,  bring 
ruin  upon  any  town  in  the  State  in  the  Union,  and  were  it  to 
be  so  left  unrebuked  it  would  be  far  worse  than  bank  robbery. 
I  did  not  pay  my  tax  under  protest  to  get  back  that  dollar. 
That  is  the  handle,  reader,  to  the  key  that  unlocks  the  bolt, 
and  that  will  bring  investigation  of  that  6§  cents  tax  on 
North  Brookfield  valuation,  and  its  becoming  an  associate. 

I  have  got  to  have  a  lawyer  out  of  Worcester  County,  lie- 
port  has  it  there  are  some — oh,  what  is  it  ?  Advice  is  not  al- 
ways cheap,  and  if  you  pay  dearly  for  legal  advice,  it  may  be  so 
shallow  that  one  will  pay  more  dearly  by  following  the  said 
advice  than  for  the  counsel  fee — at  least,  that  has  been  my 
experience  with  attorneys,  where  that  great  depot  is,  since 
the  war.  I  asked  Geo.  F.  Hoar,  my  old  counsel,  to  aid  me 
in  law  after  my  incarceration  in  the  felons'  cell  on  the  22d 
of  September  (said  Hoar  being  only  from  August  to  Decem- 
ber older  than  myself,  as  he  has  told  me  heretofore).  Hoar 
imperatively  refused,  adding  that  he  must  be  at  Washington 
on  the  15th,  &c.  "  Yes,  but  [  thought  as  you  knew 
me,  and  had  some  experience  in  the  Stoddard  and  W.  Bail- 
road  court,"  &c.  Hoar:  "Mrs.  Hill,  I  shouldnot  have  en- 
tered into  that  case  at  all  had  I  not  been  given  to  under- 
stand and  been  assured  that  it  would  have  been  settled  without 
trial,"  <tc.  Mr.  Hoar  was  the  third  different  lawyer  employed 
on  said  case,  some  of  Stoddard  and  Whiting's  other  counsel 
proving  to  be  masons,  and  so  on.  I  will  here  say  that 
Hoar's  partner  is  counsel  for  the  town,  &c.  Whiting  has 
told  me  that  "  the  town's  counsel  was  thoroughly  disgusted 


182 

with  their  proceedings."  Beader,  I  had  no  more  thought  of 
having  Hoar  for  counsel  than,  etc.,  knowing  the  circum- 
stances, I  asked  him,  and  took  witness  purposely  to  have  the 
refusal.  Hoar  is  a  woman  suffragist ;  /  am  not.  Neither 
am  I  a  politician.  But  Hoar's  vote  at  Washington  last  fall 
made  me  see,  an  I  understand  how  things  work,  since  the  war 
and  woman  suffrage  promulgation. 

I  asked  an  Irish  lawyer  the  same  day  to  look  up  the  Nye 
trespass,  but  he  did  not  want  part  of  the  job,  <fec.  ;  I  also 
asked  a  promising  young  lawyer  to  take  my  case,  sincerely 
desiring  him  as  an  advocate  ;  and  I  believe  he  desired  also 
to  obtain  justice  in  every  case  of  mine  at  issue,  and  he  ac- 
cepted. The  next  morning  he  said  his  business  was  going  to 
be  so  great  that  he  could  not  undertake  my  case,  but  was 
desirous  of  a  successful  issue  for  me,  which  he  knew  must 
come.  Reader,  that  man  had  to  face  a  boughten  crew,  whose 
doings  I  believe  in  his  heart  he  scorned  as  he  would  the  bot- 
tomless pit.  Thus,  you  see,  I  saw  at  once  his  predicament. 
I  said  then,  and  there  to  him  that  I  should  never  attempt 
to  go  into  court  in  Worcester  City  until  there  were  new  offi- 
cials— not  of  the  war  type,  or  masons.  I  wish  to  bring  in  a 
few  more  incidents  of  recent  date. 

At  my  mother's  death  her  thirds,  <fcc,  were  to  be  divided. 
Hon.  Win.  Mixter,  Hon.  Chs.  Adams,  Jr.,  and  a  gentleman 
from  Spencer  (his  name  is  gone  from  me)  were  legally  ap- 
pointed for  said  purpose.  Said  division  was  disappointing 
to  my  eldest  brother  at  the  homestead,  said  parties  not  giv- 
ing him  what  he  asked  for,  and  what  outsiders,  even,  thought 
ought  to  have  been  his  special  portion.  That  notable  era  was 
on  Saturday,  May  27,  1867,  appointed  for  my  accommoda- 
tion, as  I  was  teaching  on  Ragged  Hill,  West  Brookfield, 
eight  miles  off. 

My  brother  was  stirred  to  the  very  citadel  of  his  being  at  the 
said  partition.  Thus,  as  I  lie  on  my  couch  at  my  own  little 
cozy  home,  I  turned  this  way,  that,  and  the  other,  I  thought 
and  thought  how  I  might  get  that  house  and  yard,  &c,  into 
my  said  brother's  possession.  Accordingly,  next  morning 
I  called  on  Mrs.  Wm.  Beech er,  before  alluded  to,  telling  her, 
that  Sabbath  morn,  my  anxiety  and  desire.     Calling  ou  God 


183 

to  bless  our  every  word,  Mrs.  Beecber  said  :  "  Mrs.  Hill, 
your  great  heart  is  to  help,  to  rescue,  let  what  will  betide. 
Your  undertaking  is  a  mountainous  job,  &c.  If  you  can  buy 
the  doctor  out,  &c,  as  you  suggest,  I  will  loan  you  money 
if  the  doctor  wants  money  instead  of  your  note.  I  must 
laugh  at  your  noble  per  adventures  ;  I'll  trust  3-011  with  my 
money  without  security,"  <fcc.  Off  I  went  to  see  and  tell 
Mrs.  Lane.  Mrs.  Lane  said  :  "Oh,  my  dear  child, 
I  cau't,  I  can't  advise  you,  to  ;  your  heart  and  purpose  are 
good,  are  noble,  but  I  fear,  I  can't  advise  you,  to,  because  of 
their  previous  doings."  "  Oh,  my  faithful  guide  !  have  we  not, 
is  it  not,  in  this  time,  if  I  can,  a  duty,  a  need,  for  my  said 
brother  (drop  the  past)  to  get  for  him,  if  I  can,  the  posses- 
sion of  said  house  and  surroundings.  The  doctor  has  a 
good  house,  &c.  ;  my  sister  also,  and  I,  my  little  cot.  How 
different  it  will  ring  for  my  brother  in  need  to  say, '  I  own  this 
house — our  father's  house.'  :  Mrs.  Lane  :  "  I  could  not  un- 
dertake what  you  suggest  on  any  consideration.  I  see 
plainly  you  are  determined  to  undertake  the  matter,  and 
talk  will  be  vain.  I  will  pray  God  to  guide  you,  keep  you  as 
the  apple  of  His  eye."  At  the  homestead — my  brother  at 
his  table ;  his  face  covered  with  his  hands — "  Good  morning 
— blue?  Come,  I  am  in  for  a  rescue  this  holy  day.  This 
"plucking  of  corn  on  the  Sabbath,""  the  sheep  in  the  ditch," 
&c.  Now  for  a  hearing :  "  Brother,  will  you  give  me  so 
much  for  my  share  and  the  doctor's  (if  I  can  buy  it  of  him) ; 
pay  me  $100  down ;  give  me  as  security  for  the  remainder 
a  mortgage  on  all  your  real  estate  at  this  homestead  (also 
pledging,  when  you  wish,  that  you  will  give  me  first  chance 
to  buy,  &c.)  for  security  on  the  remaining  sum."  My  broth- 
er leaped  with  exultation  at  this  unexpected  ray  of  hope  in 
his  gloom.  "  Yes,  I  will  gladly  ;  lean  give  you  the  $100 
bill  (showing  it)  this  instant.  But  the  doctor  won't  sell  to 
you  if  he  should  mistrust  you  and  suspect  that  you  thought 
of  selling  to  me.  Mrs.  Stoddard  means  to  come  here.  War- 
ren will  sell  to  her,  and  not  to  you.  Let  that  part  rest." 
"  You  pledge  solemnly  the  above  ?"  "  Yes  ;  take  the  $100 
bill  as  a  bond."  "  No,  not  to-daj-.  To-morrow  morning  I  will 
take  your  gig  and  pacer  ;  drive  over  to  Ragged  Hill  ;  teach 


184 

my  school,  and  return  here  after  school  in  the  afternoon. 
Then  I  will  go  direct  to  the  doctor's  office,  and  strike  a  trade, 
if  possible,  and  bu\-  his  share,  trusting,  in  God's  own  time, 
again  to  live  in  this,  my  father's  house.  I'm  going  to  church 
this  afternoon.  Rest  in  peace  till  I  see  you  agaiu.  Good 
morning."  I  did  attend  church  in  the  afternoon,  and  third 
service  also.  Monday,  29th,  7  a.  m.,  I  was  wending  my  way 
in  a  gig  (pride  in  pocket ;  also  $100)  to  my  school-room — a 
wide-awake  school  that.  I  got  home  in  the  afternoon.  At 
the  doctor's  office — Doctor  :  "  Hallo  !  where  do  you  come 
from?"  "  Ragged  Hill."  Doctor  :  "  Been  in  school  to-day?" 
"  Yes."  Doctor  :  "  Mighty,  what's  up  ?"  "  That's  just  the 
question.  I  want  to  buy  your  share  ;  so  and  so  will  give  so 
much."  Doctor  :  "  You  may  have  it.  I  had  much  rather 
cut  off  coupons  than  till  land,"  &c.  "  I  have  not  money 
enough  to  give  you  all  ;  here's  $100  ;  this  bank  book  I  will 
make  over  to  you  ;  the  remainder  I  shall  have  to  borrow  if 
you  will  not  take  my  note."  Doctor  :  "  I'd  just  as  soon 
have  your  note  ;  we  will  go  this  minute  down  to  Nye's  (not 
10  rods  off)  and  have  the  deed  made  at  once."  At  Nye's 
the  deed  was  made  out  complete,  the  doctor's  wife  signing, 
we  went  off  each  to  our  own  abode.  Ere  I  reached  mine,  I 
met  the  waiting  brother.  With  quick  step  we  en- 
tered Nye's.  Said  Nye  was  surprised  to  a  marve1,  and  said 
"  Mr.  Tyler,  your  sister  is  doing  a  great  thing.  Why,  this 
sudden,  all  unexpected  move  is  making  (in  putting  together 
again  this  property),  you  worth  more  by  $1,000."  My 
brother  shed  tears  of  joy,  saying,  "  I  know  what  she  is 
doing;  the  other  two  would  not  have  helped  me  to  a  'red.'" 
"What  a  woman  you  are,"  says  Nye,  laughing  and  writing 
the  deed  and  mortgage.  The  clock  struck  eleven  just  as  we 
rose  to  leave.  I  did  not  read  my  mortgage.  I  had  no  thought 
of  a  mistake.  In  the  morning  I  left  the  same  under  seal 
with  Mrs.  Beecher.  She  smilingly  says,  "you  heroine,"  &c. 
The  next  morning  my  brother  with  his  fiery  steed  takes  me 
and  leaves  me  at  Ragged  Hill  »chool-house.  Next  time  at 
kome  Nye  tells  me  of  my  sister  coming  to  him  in  great 
wrath  about  the  above  proceeding.  The  doctor,  feeling 
sorry,  supposed  I  was  going  to  keep  it  myself,  &c.     Nye 


185 

adding,  that  day  alone  was  your  success.  (That  sister's  son 
is  just  so  yet.)  In  December,  1874,  owing  to  misfortune, 
my  brother  was  uuable  to  meet  my  payments  or  pay  in- 
terest. I  was  willing  all  should  remain,  wishing  him  to 
have  the  mortgage  and  note  acknowledge  interest  on  in- 
terest, as  I  had  been  sick — not  earning  for  nearly  two  years. 
The  Duncan  slander  had  cost  heavily  (by  having  counsel  of 
R.  Beecher  and  the  Bartlett  recommendation).  I  was  need- 
ing money  when  at  Worcester.  My  brother  told  me  to  have 
that  mortgage  made  as  I  desired,  giving  me  writing  for  its 
security.  Bacon  was  not  at  his  office.  Knowing  J.  Henry 
Hill,  I  showed  him  said  mortgage.  He  said  the  mortgage 
was  only  on  an  undivided  portion  of  my  mother's  thirds. 
According  to  my  statement,  I  was  not  secured  for  one-third 
of  the  dues.  I  was  astounded.  Reader,  I  never  had  read 
that  mortgage.  I  went  back  to  P.  C.  Bacon's  office.  He 
tells  me  the  same;  sends  me  to  the  Probate  Court-house  for 
records  of  the  divided  thirds  made  by  before-mentioned 
gentlemen,  which  I  had  bought  and  sold  specifically. 
Stevens  and  Clerk  searched  a  full  day  in  vain;  they  see- 
ing the  court  appointment  for  said  division.  At  last  Mr. 
Stevens  and  Bacon  told  me  to  go  home  to  Nye,  and  get  the 
papers.  I  went.  Nye  was  confused;  knew  nothing  about 
it  now,  and  he  should  not  think  anything  about  it!  "You 
won't?  I  guess  Peter  C.  Bacon  can  make  you  think,  as 
that  gentleman  sent  me  here  for  the  same."  Nye — "  Did 
Bacon  send  for  the  paper.-;?"  "He  did,  sir.  The  divisions 
I  have  paid  lor,  &c,  niu.-t  be  defined  in  record  without 
delay.  Your  blunder,  or  ignorance,  has  placed  me  in  finan- 
cial ruin,  if  the  parties  concerned  should  act  a  thousandth 
part  as  mean  as  you  have."  Nye  searched  here  and  there. 
He  knew  the  divisions — how  I  bought  and  sold.  Mixter  is 
dead.  "  If  the  doctor  had  the  mortgage  on  the  homestead, 
as  you  have,  it  would  not  be  necessary  to  find  the  papers." 
"Sir,  it's  my  mortgage,  and  'tis  necessary."  "I  will  look  in 
the  morning,  and  come  to  your  house  with  information." 

The  next  day  he  takes  Dr.  Tyler  to  Worcester,  to  P.  C. 
Bacon,  and  said  the  parties  thus  agreed.  A  fearful  fabri- 
cation  of  his   own.      Bacon  knew  it.      Bacon   mado  him 


186 

measure  the  bounds  of  land.     I  had  bought  and  paid  for 
the  half,  house,  &c. ;  and  Bacon,  in  December,  1874,  made 
the  conveyance.     Reader,  you  ought  to  have  seen  that  little 
bantam  Nye  out  with  his  compass,  measuring  land  in  the 
freezing  cold.     The  bantam  urged   said  brother  to  let  the 
doctor   have  the  mortgage  and  pay  me   up,  as   I  wanted 
the  money  so  much.     The  transfer  was  negotiated  then  and 
there,  Bacon  thinking  the  money  better  for  me.    Oh,  oh,  oh  J 
Bacon,  how  little  you  can  know  what  it  is  to  be  in  somebody 
else's  place.     The  doctor  has  now  his  long  desire,  and  I 
wronged  most  fearfully!     B.  Nye  has  stopped  not  in  his 
every  move  to  take  everything  he  can  get  in  his  pig-eye 
aspirations  upon  .mine  for  his  and  a  few  others'  emolument. 
Header,  see  that  eighty-year-old  sending  Scotchmen,  Italians 
and  Irishmen  upon  my  land,  to  get  stones  I  have  piled  for 
my  own  use,  ro   fill  up   and   bridge  up  the  railroad  bed, 
&g.     The  remainder  hereafter.     Reader,  look  at  A.  Smith 
again — why  his  way,  and  none  other.     His  store  seems  like 
a  dice-box.     Your  eye  would  be  weary  to  see  how  often  his 
mortgage  deeds  are  advertised.     Step  into  his  store  a  minute. 
His  head  a  peck  measure  might  encase.     His  hair  being 
like  the  negro,  only  grey,  with  great  abundance.     He  has 
very  social,  attractive  ways — laying  one  hand  into  the  other 
inside  up,  sort  of  a  move,  with  a  phthisicky  cough,  standing 
between  counters  to  greet  the  comers  in.     "  Walk  into  my 
parlor,  said  the  spider  to  the  fly."     Oh,  you  illiterate  man, 
soon  the  mortgage  sells  you  out.     How  the  greeting  to- 
day?    Ben  Dean  is  off,  moving  buildings.     He  leaves  $100 
with  his  wife,  to  pay  to  said  Smith  on  account.     She  leaves 
it,  comes  direct  to  my  house  with  her  eldest  daughter  that 
I  have  been  fitting  for  a  teacher.     She  tells  me  of  paying 
that  $100  that  morning.     Smith,  in  his  hurry,  don't  make 
minute  of  it,  and  a  long,  tedious  law-suit  is  the  consequence, 
costing  both  a  number  of  hundred  dollars.     The  tax  bills 
speak  loudly  of  his  wealth.     He  is  the  man  who  told  me  to 
sit  down  in  town  meeting,  when  1  whisperingly  asked  him 
to  count  the  vote,  instead  of  yea  and  nay,  because  of  the 
illegal  votes.     "  I  tell  you  sit  down,  or  an  officer  will  come 
and  put  this  woman  out  of  the  hall."   Reader,  remember  I  did 


187 

not  go  in  or  out  iliat  hall  without  Cons.  Lombard.  When  Lom- 
bard and  I  were  in  the  ante-room  he  said  he  saw  the  boys 
and  others  vote,  and  he  had  seen  it  many  times  before. 
"But,  oh,  Mrs.  Hill,  3-011  see  how  they  feel  towards  you — 
don't,  for  God's  sake  and  mine!"  Didn't  I  dig  for  parts  un- 
known till  he  cooled  off.  Then,  to  see  that  "  dice-box"  on  my 
land,  to  appraise  it!  J.  E.  Porter,  that  can't  influence, 
because  he  don't  want  to,  that  brother-in-law,  double  distilled, 
to  pay  for  my  hay,  that  horse  ate,  that  drew  the  coal, 
that  lay  in  house  Barlow  built,  who  owns  one  of  those 
trimmed  walnuts.  And  I  ain't  afraid  to  guess  that  Barlow 
will  prove  to  have  a  soul  of  dimensions. 

J.  E.  Porter  sold  some  building  lots  from  said  Barlow  lot 
at  a  fabulous  price,  and  then  called  on  the  town  to  lay  out  a 
road  before  said  house-lots,  and  demurred  that  he  did  not 
have  three  times  allowed  him  for  land  for  said  road,  though 
said  road  was  enhancing  the  value  of  his  estate  thousands. 
That  man  appraising  mylaud  that  is  cut  in  that  fearful  way,as 
the  profile  tells  the  reader.  See  him  and  Gabriel  at  a  Chicago 
Christian  gathering— so  pious,  so  ready  to  do  good  in  the 
vineyard  of  the  Lord.  Pieader,  let  me  here  take  y^ou  to  the 
Genett  farm,  where  Sandy-flash  steals  from  one  to  give  to 
another.  Both  forgetting,  of  course,  that  a  sister  in  Christ 
they  have  left  behind  out  of  the  fold  in  North  Brookfield, 
without  one  call  to  get  her  in  the  fold  again ;  but  we  will 
strip  her  fleece  all  off  clean,  send  her  naked  bleating  into  the 
cold  world.  And  we'll  have  to  help  spread  the  Gospel  with 
what  we  can  get  from  her  fleece,  ttc.  DeBevoise,  &c,  God 
is  not  mocked.  Your  prayers  there  were  as  sounding  brass 
and  tinkling  cymbals  at  Chicago — right  from  North  Brook- 
field,  Mass.,  not  your  native  land,  but  vrine,  from  which  I  have 
been  driven,  to  find  shelter  from  the  fleecers  and  wolves. 
And  the  three  last-named,  are  they  not  co-workers  in  the 
illegal  traffic  set  forth  in  this  book  ?  That  I  cry  in  agony  of 
soul  for  help,  for  guidance  in  my  need,  in  a  stranger's  home! 

Eeader,  back  to  November  4th.  I  hustled  a  few  things 
more  into  my  trunk,  the  driver  doing  the  most.  Thus  was  I 
robbed  of  a  few  hours' — in  my  house  of  mourning  peace 
by  Bothwell,  the  trespasser.     No  hell  was  ever  described 


188 

that  could  give  him  justice.  The  next  morning,  at  Worces- 
ter, when  arranging  my  trunk,  the  driver  tings  the  bell,  and 
leaves  my  four  babies'  locket — my  small  amount  of  jewelry, 
that  I  was  just  trying  to  think  where  I  laid  them,  when 
Both  well  met  my  gaze  on  my  forbidden  ground. 

Not  having  my  policy,  and  having  my  mail  sent  from 
North  Brookfield,  November  2d,  in  which  was  a  letter  from 
the  insurance  company  dated  October  4th,  saying  my  policy 
would  cease  the  24th,  m.  My  premium  and  policy  I  own, 
expires  April  1st,  M.,  1881.  Luther  Deland,  agent,  the  tele- 
graphed in  this  book  you  remember,  &c.  On  said  letter  read, 
in  print,  if  not  taken  out  in  ten  days,  return  to  said  office. 
Saturday  eve'g,  Nov.  3d,  4.30  p.m.,  I  take  the  steamboat  forW". 
Nov.5, 1  enter,  present  myself — and  such  audacity — the  blood 
mounts  high  as  I  write.  Sum  it  up  thus  :  "  We  will  pay 
the  insurance  on  the  barn,  as  you  are  a  great  loser,  after 
we  held  a  meeting,  Wednesday  next,  but  we  can't  protect 
your  house,  if  it  is  vacant,"  <fcc,  "  airy  longer."  "  Gentlemen, 
when  I  left  my  house,  I  expected  to  return  to  the  same  in 
less  than  two  weeks,  my  health  and  other  circumstances 
connected  with  the  book  to  be  soon  issued  prevented."  On 
the  13th  of  October,  5  p.m.,  I  heard  of  my  loss ;  it  crushed 
me  again  to  hear  ;  omnipotent  and  omniscient  power  alone 
sustained  me.  I  tried  in  vain  to  hear  from  Luther  Deland. 
I  will  here  relate  an  incident.  In  1850  (something),  Mr.  Hill 
had  bought  part  of  a  nice  beef  filling  a  barrel  with  choice 
roasts,  steak,  and  so  on,  setting  said  barrel  above  the  well, 
against  a  five  foot  embankment,  to  freeze.  One  morning, 
with  his  lantern,  he  went  to  said  barrel  for  steak  for  the 
family  breakfast.  When,  lo  !  the  barrel  was  tipped  over 
empty.  A  thief,  not  two  legged  but  four,  had  been  there. 
A  roast  bone —  he  looks  farther — he  sees  fresh  mounds  here 
and  there,  he  digs  up  one,  it's  his  meat.  A  dozen  would  not 
count  the  new  "Jog  graves."  He  comes  in  b}-  being  called 
— "Is  that  steak  coming  for  breakfast?"  The  proprietor 
enters  with  a  gnawed  roast,  hands  it  to  me  with  a  mad  dis- 
may— "  It's  the  best  I  can  get  this  morning."  Aloud  ha,  ha! 
came  from  my  empty  shell,  the  combination  scene  just 
made.     Lloydy  saying,  hurriedly,  "  Grandpa's  dog  did  not 


189 

do  that,  papa,  I  know,  it  was  some  starved  cur,  wnsn't  it,  pa- 
pa?" "  Yes  ;  some  poor  cuss  that  keeps  a  dog  half  fed,"  &e. 
The  dog's  coming  was  watched  for  ;  before  noon  he  came 
round,  took  a  cursory  view  of  his  new  market  field  and  pro- 
ceeded to  uncover,  pawed  out  a  chunk  heavy  as  himself,  to 
all  appearances,  and  marched  off  boldly,  cross  lots  and 
other  ways,  Mr.  Hill  following  in  the  distance.  The  dog 
brought  up  «at  Chauncy  Edmunds'  cottage  house  where 
Luther  Deland  lived,  in  quite  small,  close  apartments.  Thus 
his  dog  had  a  good  sumptuous  store  filled  with  stolen  meat 
for  future  need.  It  wasn't  paid  for.  No,  that  was  carelessness, 
like  leaving  my  watch,  1875,  on  the  recitation  table  since,  &c. 
I  told  Mr.  Hill  then,  when  the  dog  proceeding  which  was  a  type 
and  shadow  of  something  to  come, should  be  fulfilled,  I  hoped 
to  be  able  to  understand  the  riddle.  Mr.  Hill  thought  the 
barrel  of  meat  returned  to  him  would  be  the  understanding 
for  him.  Reader,  how  about  this  insurance  policy,  why  is 
Deland  so  still  and  silent,  when  in  agony  ©f  soul  I  tele- 
graphed him  to  take  in  his  special  custody  my  house  and  all 
therein  from  those,  or  that  unsatiated  mob.  He  has  of  late 
been  with  DeBevoise.  Is  DeBevoise  tugging  him,  too  ?  Luther 
Deland  and  wife  left  the  old  church  and  went  to  the  Union 
when  DeBevoise  first  came  to  North  Brookfield.  That  lost 
r  in  DeBevoise's  pronounciation  was  more  than  they  could 
endure,  &c.  I  will  just  say  I  liked  DeBevoise's  sermons  first 
so  much,  I  did  not  miss  the  r.  I  have  not  been  able  not 
to  miss  it  of  late.  For  instance,  when  he  says  in  school, 
"  Childwin  it  is  a  gweat  thing  to  have  yow  name  enwolled  in 
pwint." 

As  to  my  house  being  unoccupied,  it  has  been  vacanu 
by  my  absence  from  the  same  twelve  weeks  at  a  time  teach- 
ing— four,  five,  sis,  eight,  ten  weeks,  a  common  thing.  And 
never  before  as  now  left  unoccupied  with  the  uninsured 
value,  my  income,  my  all.  And  the  vandals  have  driven  me 
from  my  own  home.  Their  name  ought  to  be  the  serpent's 
walking  as  the  Bible  tells  about  instead  of  crawling. 

The  insurance  agent  said  he  would  recommend  me  to  go 
next  door  or  somewhere.  "  Sir,  your  deal  does  not  meet 
mj  comprehension,  you  wish  to  put  off  your  insurance  blanket 


190 

— leave  my  house  unprotected  against  the  mob  in  North 
Brookfiekl,  which  it  is  your  duty  to  investigate  and  bring 
the  culprits  to  justice.  But  your  agent  there  is  not  tending 
to  business  as  he  did  in  the  Duncan's  fire,"  &c.  "  What 
meaneth  it?"  I  see,  sir,  what  it  means.  The  rabble  want  to 
destroy  the  rest  and  not  have  me  get  one  cent.  That  is  the 
cut  and  dried  plan.  My  house  has  double  the  value  in  it 
that  it  had  when  insured.  My  barn  and  contents  not  one 
tenth  insured.  My  farm  income  is  all  gone,  the  labor  is 
paid  for  that  had  done  the  hard  labor.  I  demand  you,  as 
recipient  of  my  premiums  and  policies  paid  you,  that  you 
take  charge  of  said  property,  from  which  1  am  driven  for 
safety  to  my  life  and  character."  The  rest  I  leave  for  a  fu- 
ture time. 

You  cannot  fail  to  see  the  hang  together  of  the  nests  to 
destroy  whoever  questions  their  right  to  take  rough  shod, 
whatever  they  wish.  My  wood  in  small  piles  here  and  there, 
if  not  stolen,  those  walnut  tree  butts  as  fallen.  My  L  not  built, 
my  barn  gone,  and  my  many  well  directed  plans  defeated, 
driven  out  from  my  house  among  strangers.  And  with  fiendish 
glut  they  are  reaching  for  the  last  penn}r.  The  Norway  spruce 
about  my  tomb,  just  as  they  were  felled,  if  they  had  been  left 
standing,  Mr.  Sampson's  barn  and  house  must  have  been 
burnt.  The  money  all  used  up.  That  those  repairs  and  addi- 
tions would  have  been  made  had  it  not  been  for  the  satanic 
designs  and  acts  that  came  of  the  North  Brookfield  Railroad, 
whose  treacherous  illegality  cannot  be  equalled  in  history.  I 
appeal  again  to  every  man  and  woman  to  aid  in  showing  up 
the  false  glitter  of  those  men  rushing  themselves  into 
notoriety  on  ill  gotten  gains. 

I  ought  to  have  related  an  incident  which  took  place 
March  28  or  29th,  1871.  The  day  after  that  Duncan  notice 
I  was  at  Hartford,  Connecticut,  at  Catherine  Beecher's 
Seminary,  where  I  was  expected  as  a  teacher.  On  reaching 
said  seminary,  I  found  that  the  week  previous  Miss  Catherine 
Beecher  had  transferred  said  position  to  a  niece,  Miss  Mary 
Beecher,  thus  that  prospect  was  at  an  end.  Miss  Beecher 
urged  me  to  spend  the  night  with  them,  but  desiring  to  learn 
some  facts  connected  with  Duncan,  &c,  stopped  at  the  Allyn 


191 

House.  I  was  a  guest  at  the  Allyn  House,  Hartford,  where 
my  name  can  be  found  registered.  During  my  stay  in  said 
hotel  Augustus  Smith  and  daughter  and  some  others,  saw 
mo,  between  the  hours  of  twelve  and  on<>,  midnight,  walking 
insanely  about  J.  Duncan's  premises  ;  it  was  heralded  from 
Dan  to  Beersheba,  for  the  benefit  of  Jim  and  family,  to 
cover  their  sins.  After  the  prairie  tire  slander  spread,  it  was 
told  by  Robert  Beecher  much  to  my  chagrin;  I  was  certainly 
in  Hartford,  Connecticut,  that  night,  and  he  could  not  for 
his  life  see  how  I  could  be  in  North  Brookfield.  Jim  and 
Augustus,  finding  that  would  not  work  out,  Jim  drove  round, 
saying  it  was  his  maid  out  listening  to  the  band  in  the  town 
hall  His  maid's  figure  is  as  much  like  mine  as  an  elephant  is 
like  an  antelope,  nevertheless,  reader,  that  is  the  goggles  and 
brain  of  North  Brookfield,  when  they  wish  to  start  a  "  high" 
of  their  peculiar  caste.  And  never  in  my  life  did  I  ever  step 
or  encroach,  out  of  season,  or  out  of  place,  upon  a  spot, 
place  or  thing.  My  uprightness  is  unimpeachable.  The 
falsifications  of  that  marplot  of  iniquity  alleged  to  my  name 
are  their  own  monstrosities  by  birth,  and  upon  their  own 
shdulders  at  last  "  roost." 


November  3d,  1877. 
North  Brookfield  Journal  News. 

"  Mrs.  E.  R.  Hill  shortly  issues  a  pamphlet  containing  an 
account  of  her  wrongs." 

November  10th. 

"  Mrs.  E.  R.  Hill  was  in  town  last  Sunday." 

"  Mrs.  E.  R.  Hill  was  in  town  Sunday.  She  is  writing  a 
book,  shortly  to  be  published,  which  will  give  the  author's 
opinions  concerning  '  matters  and  things'  which  have  tran- 
spired in  this  town  during  the  past  twenty  years  or  so." 


I  was  home  said  Sunday ;  just  hoping  I  could  see  my 
ruins,  get  some  clothes  to  wear,  get  baby's  hair,  and  insur- 
ance policy,  and  some  money  I-had  written  for  to  one  who 
would  not  have  (nor  never  before  when  asked)  refused,  had 
it  not  been  for  this  crucifixion  hour  1     I  came  home  alone  as 


192 

soon  as  I  could  venture  with  health  sufficient  to  meet  the 
sight  you  had  made  and  the  destruction  of  my  hard  earn- 
ings. There  were  many  choice,  sacred,  useful,  necessary 
articles  in  that  barn,  having  placed  them  there  till  that  room 
was  built.  Had  you  come  and  tendered  me  $500  for  those 
specific  articles,  I  should  have  said  :  "  Go  !  beggarly  stone 
hearts  ;  go  your  way !" — That  $500  is  not  included  in  my 
estimate.  The  town  has  offered  $500  reward.  To  me  it  seems 
the  public's  farce  to  cover  that  sin — will  it  be  uncovered  if 
they  can  help  it,  like  the  Jas.  Duncan  case  ? 

"We'll  clear  Mrs.  Hill  out;  she  will  have  no  money  to 
rebuild."  Another  incident  right  here  :  My  man,  Robert 
Morse,  after  that  felon  court,  was  fairly  beset,  to  his  disgust 
and  indignation,  while  waiting  with  carriage  at  the  Town 
Hall  during  that  farce  court.  "  Great  stylo,  eh  ?  "  "  Where 
does  Mrs.  Hill  get  her  money?"  "Hurrah  for  stjde  I" 
"Who  foots  the  bill?  "  &c,  etc.,  ft'om  old  heads  and  young. 
After  his  day's  work,  Tim  Clark,  Alf.  Bartlett,  and  other 
"  Cheap  freight ! "  railroad  men,  would  hail  him  thus  : 
"  Does  Mrs.  Hill  pay  you  ?  "  "  Where  does  she  get  her 
money?  "  &c. 

Many  others  asked  that  man  the  same  impudent  ques- 
tions. It  seems  to  me  to  have  been  their  preparatory  ar- 
rangement to  clean  my  buildings  out,  and  be  certain  I  had 
no  place  to  live,  and  no  money  to  meet  my  cases  in  court ! 
One  paper  issued  some  one  outside  "  burnt  the  bam  to  get 
up  sympathy."  How  transparent  a  subterfuge,  to  try  to 
cover  that  guilt!  What  sympathy  is  going  to  give  me 
my  lost,  lost  property  ?  Oh,  you  fiends  of  sin !  Await 
your  doom  !     God's  time,  not  mine  ! 

As  Morse  was  driving  home  from  Mrs.  Ayres'  rowan 
mowing  lot,  Bothwell  walks  in  front  of  the  span,  saying, 
"  Morse,  did  you  cut  those  branches  for  Mrs.  Hill?"  "I 
did  not."  "  Who  did  ?"  "  You  can  ask  Mrs.  Hill."  The 
whip  cracks,  the  span  start  and  so  does  B.  ! 

In  crossing  and  recrossing  the  East  River,  while  overhead 
the  rolling  wheels  stretches  from  column  to  column  the 
cable,  that  is  now  spanning  the  river,  and  the  boat 
crowded  with  passengers,  at  all  times  of  day,  I  always  press 


193 

to  tho  forward  part  of  the  boat,  that  I  may  see  and  learn 
what  men  cannot  convey  with  the  tongue.  The  thoughts 
that  crowd  into  my  brain  in  this  "  harvest  time"  would  fill  a 
volume.  Oh,  young  man  (just  stepping  outside  the  chain),  a 
step  more,  and  you  would  go  down,  down  into  that  leaden 
water — while  the  leaden  sky  overhead  would  seem  that  not 
one  ray  of  hope  could  be  sent  for  your  rescue.  Not  so  with 
my  brother— whom  you  look  so  much  like — the  water  he 
stepped  into,  with  seven  others,  was  clear  and, transparent. 
The  sun  shone  bright  on  that  June  afternoon.  Everything 
was  as  clear  and  bright  as  the  day  star  on  high.  That  step 
of  that  loved  brother  put  on  his  immortality  the  28th  of 
June,  1854.  I  am  on  a  sick-bed  in  that  very  house — with  a 
baby  eighteen  days  old  I  am  fugitive  from  to-day.  John 
Hill,  with  my  husband,  comes  to  my  bedside — they  take 
•my  hands  :  "  Elizabeth,  keep  calm,  keep  calm,  for  Albert  is 
no  more  !     He  was  drowned  about  two  o'clock  while  bathing 

with  Doctor and  Lawyer ,  and  others."  Peace ! 

'tis  the  Lord  Jehovah's  hand  that  blasts  our  joys  in  death  ! 
Midnight,  and  that  beautiful,  manly,  lifeless  form  is  in 
father's  parlor,  not  forty-eight  hours  since  he  crossed  the 
same  threshold  full  of  life  and  soul.  June  30th  the  town  is 
en  masse,  as  with  solemn  tread  they  bear  that  noble  youth  of 
twenty  years  to  hi3  dry  grave.  They  halt  in  front  of  the 
Hill  cottage;  a  table  is  placed  beneath  the  front  window; 
the  casket  is  taken  from  the  hearse  and  placed  on  the  table, 
for  his  sister,  Mrs.  Hill,  is  wrapped  up,  in  the  old  arm-chair, 
at  that  window ;  the  lid  is  removed,  and  that  red-cheeked 
brother  lays  as  if  asleep,  just  ready  to  smile.  Oh,  Death ! 
thou  hast  the  fairest  of  the  flock! 

July  4th,  1854 — midnight.  I  am  dreaming.  A  fearful 
hailstorm  pelting  the  windows  as  if  they  must  crush  them. 
I  awaken,  my  eyes  open  ;  the  room,  with  its  white  curtains, 
is  as  light  as  fire  could  make  it.  I  shriek.  The  house  is  in 
flames  !  "  Mr.  Hill — Lloyd — we  are  on  fire  ! — the  house  is 
on  fire  !"  My  nurse,  with  the  babe  in  her  arms,  gets  off  my 
bed  in  bewilderment ;  she  moves  here  and  there  senseless. 
I  get  off  the  bed,  and  with  maniacal  strength  open  wide  tho 
outside  door,  and  screech,  "  Fire  !  fire  !"     I  see  that  the  old 


194 

Dana  meeting-house  is  one  blaze.  Lloyd  is  pulling  me  back. 
"  Mother,  you'll  die  !  you'll  die  !  Come  in  till  we  can  get 
you  out !  Do,  mother,  do  !"  The  cinders  and  sparks  have 
set  our  house  on  fire  ;  our  windows  are  cracking  ;  my  bed 
blanket,  on  the  footboard  of  my  bed,  has  caught;  I  grasp  it* 
with  a  hymn  book  on  the  carpet  I  put  the  fire  out,  and  wrap 
the  blanket  about  me,  (that  blanket  is  still  in  that  house  if  it 
has  not  been  stolen) ;  in  my  sick-robe  and  slippers,  and  the 
blanket ;  Lloyd  leads  me  out,  his  little  arms  around  as  far  as 
he  could  reach,  my  limbs  reeling  me  like  a  drunken  man* 
he  lays  me  down  under  an  apple-tree,  away  from  cinders  and 
sparks,  ruDS  back  and  brings  pillows  and  blankets,  leaving 
me  upon  them,  and  with  kisses  said  "Don't  die,  mama,  don't 
die  !"  "  Lloyd,  God  will  keep  me."  "  I'll  go  and  carry 
that  Bible  (a  large  beautiful  Bible  I  gave  him  as  his  seventh 
year's  birthday  present)  on  to  grandpa's  mowing,  every- 
thing else  as  fast  as  I  can.  Rest  and  live,  mama."  That 
noble  boy  is  ten  years  old  (the  one  that  weighed  three  and  a 
quarter  pounds  all  dressed).  He  would  rush  to  me  every 
time  he  came  back  from  grandpa's  mowing,  looking,  off! 
Once  he  stopped ;  "  Papa  has  fainted ;  they  have  brought 
him  too.  I  told  him  to  sit  still  on  his  trunk ;  he  can't  do  a 
thing.  He's  as  white  as  you  are,  mamma.  A  pretty  time  to 
faint,  ain't  it,  mamma  '?"  With  a  kiss  he  bounds  off,  soon 
reappearing  with  some  men  and  a  door.  They  place  the 
door  on  rails,  with  bed,  and  thus  I  am  laid  on  the  door  and 
carried  by  six  men  into  Mr.  Lewis  Whiting's  house.  I  did 
not  speak,  nor  could  not  till  the  following  afternoon  ;  I  knew, 
but  could  not  speak.  After  sleep,  when  waking,  I  called 
for  my  baby.  Llody,  kissing  me  :  "  I'll  bring  brother  from 
Mr.  Fullum's  as  soon  as  they  will  let  me — he  is  asleep  and 
well,  mamma.  The  house  ain't  burnt  up,  only  the  windows, 
and  the  carpets  under  the  windows,  the  roof  and  not  much  ; 
oh  mama,  rest,  sleep,  do."  That  precious,  faithful,  loving 
son ;  that  was  beyond  his  years  in  every  way ;  he  could 
tell  the  tests,  different  parts  of  sermons  with  accuracy. 
The  winter  he  was  four  years  old,  in  school,  Dr.  Snell  (com- 
mittee) visiting  the  school,  in  talking  to  the  scholars,  wanted 
to  know  if  there  was  a  boy  or  girl  in  the  school  that  could 


195 

repeat  the  Fourth  Commandment,  to  rise  and  repeat  it.  No 
one  seemed  to  know  anything  about  it ;  Llody,  in  one  of  the 
lowest  seats  rises  and  repeats  the  Fourth  Commandment 
word  for  word,  and  sits  down.  Dr.  Snell  was  affected 
to  tears — "  Llody  you  are  a  promising  boy,  God  bless  you  ; 
children,  Lloyd's  mother  instructs  him  and  euides  him,  and 
the  seed  there  sown  will  spring  up  into  everlasting  life  ;  let 
us  pray."  Dr.  Snell,  Dr.  Cushing,  Rev.  Win.  Beecher, — all 
were  faithful  in  the  promised  charge  over  me  and  my  house- 
hold. DeBe.  has  not  been  at  my  door  but  once,  since  his 
wife's  death,  and  then  there  to  ask  me  to  contribute  towards 
graveling  the  walk  around  his  grave  plot,  as  one  side  was  my 
walk.  I  attempted  to  speak  at  that  time  of  the  desecration  of 
graves,  in  the  picking  of  walnuts,  &c;  he  walks  right  off  with- 
out the  least  notice,  "Briefly,  I  will  let  you  know  as  soon  as  I 
can  what  your  amount  to  pay  will  be."  I  was  perfectly  dis- 
gusted with  him  that  moment.  "You  want  my  money  and  that 
is  all  you  care  for  ;  my  soul,  or  the  dead  bodies  of  my  children 
is  of  no  account."  I  have  been  at  babies'  grave  and  he  came 
to  his  plot  with  somebody.  I  see  enough,  and  I  certainly 
hope  and  pray  God's  time  will  remove  DeBevoise,  so  that 
his  remains  will  not  ever  lie  by  my  dead  children,  and  where 
my  right  is  to  be  laid  in  brick  vault  when  killed  by  the 
mob !  I  have  said,  and  will  pen  here.  I  hope  DeBevoise 
will  be  buried  on  his  native  land,  if  such  place  can  be  found, 
for  such  a  pugilistic  spirit  as  he  possesses  must  have  a  great 
amount  of  phosphorus  in  his  carcass  enough  perhaps  to  set 
the  very  earth  on  fire,  and  thus  commence  that  great  read 
about  day !  Thus  the  very  earth  through  DeBevoise  will 
burn  mine,  and  me  first. 

I  wish  to  speak  of  my  little  cottage-home,  subject  to 
another  incident.  In  spring  time  of  1868,  during  vacation,  I 
had  been  at  Worcester  spending  some  days  (in  said  city  where 
I  have  purchased  for  the  last  twenty  years  ■&%■  of  my  neces- 
saries, not  including  groceries.  The  day  after  returning 
home  on  one  of  those  tours,  after  performing  my  daily 
round  at  home,  after  ablution — on  my  sofa  for  rest, — a 
strong  smoke  scent  came  into  my  room.  I  up,  and  pulled 
the  curtain,  east.    The  smoke  is  rising  around  my  tomb.    I 


196 

rush  below,  take  a  pail  of  water,  broom,  screeching,  fire,  fire i 
Daguerrian  Car j  is  burniug  raspberry -bushes  and  brush.  One 
of  the  most  windy  days  of  spring ;  the  flames  leave  that  pile 
and  rush  on  to  my  territory  within  three  feet  of  my  tomb,  and 
that  simple  man  back  of  the  flames  striking  to  put  out  the 
running  fire.  I  shout,  "  for  God's  sake,  come  here  and  don't 
let  it  reach  these  fir  trees  over  my  dead  boys."  The  neigh- 
bors rush  with  brooms  and  shovels  ;  and  when  subdued,  I 
said  to  Cary,  "  how  came  this  fire  ?  "  "  Cary  was  burning 
brush,  &c."  "Burning  brush  such  a  windy  day  as  this  ?"  Cary: 
"  Yes,  burning  brush  such  a  windy  day  as  this."  A  man  that 
knows  no  more  than  to  do  that,  ought  to  have  a  guardian !  " 
That  killed  me,  Cary  will  hunt  me  down  till  he  dies  for  this 
truthful  suggestion.  Had  I  not  been  home  that  day  no 
power  could  have  saved  my  buildings  because  of  the  Norway 
Spruce  trees. 

Thus  I  have  been  set  on  fire  :  First,  on  the  northwest  side ; 
second,  on  the  southeast  side  ;  third,  on  the  south  side, 
nine  feet  from  my  dwelling-house — the  distance  between 
the  house  and  barn.  Reader,  you  must  see  their  next  flank 
movement  must  be  north  of  the  house.  The  insurance  com- 
pany, whose  policy  I  have  in  my  possession,  did  their  best 
to  uncover  that  house — throwing  it  unprotected  into  that 
savage  mob's  power,  which,  I  feel  in  my  inmost  soul,  they 
long  to  bring  to  the  same  ashes  as  the  barn.  I  have  not  a 
red  cent  to  cover  the  loss.  That  their  purpose  and  design 
to  ruin  me  is  rampant,  is  apparent  as  noon  day.  See,  right 
from  the  communion  comes  trespassing  Bothwell  on  my 
land,  to  goad  me  to  madness,  as  his  vile,  lying  tongue  de- 
monstrated. Header,  will  you  permit,  in  this  year  1877,  as 
treasonable  conduct  as  can  be  found  recorded  in  1777  ? 
Southern  slavery  has  been  denounced;  the  battle  fought, 
the  victory  Avon.  The  illiterate  negro  was  permitted  to  vote 
who  could  not  read  or  write ;  illiterate  and  unprincipled 
men  were  hustled  into  office  until  our  land  cries,  as  with  the 
blood  of  Abel,  for  the  souls  crushed  in  this  Northern  Con- 
federacy by  malpractices  of  the  statutes,  of  humanity  and  of 
decency.  Reader,  I  appeal  to  you  for  assistance  and  pro- 
tection against  those  malpractices  of  the  law  in  North  Brook- 


197 

field  and  Worcester,  where  not  a  human  look  of  chance  for 
truth  and  statute  laws  against  those  moneyed  men  of  my 
property  are  gathering  sustenance  to  swamp  me  in  financial 
ruin. 

Oh,  could  you  see  that  railroad  board,  riding  in  their 
stolen  pomposity,  taunting  me  with  their  employed  tools 
(men).  For  instance,  that  North  Brookfield  bastard 
railroad  runs  so  many  trains  per  day,  they  stop  on  that 
four  mile  route  as  some  of  the  pop-corn  swells  desire-  take 
on  baggage  and  let  off  the  same,  take  on  individuals  and  let 
off  the  same — as  said  railroad  ring  accommodations  may 
demand.  (The  free  rides  come  hereafter.)  Coming  up  from 
Worcester  one  time,  the  train  we  were  to  meet  at  East  Brook- 
field,  an  accident  at  Palmer  despatch  says,  "  start  soon."  We 
had  waited  more  than  an  hour  previous  to  the  dispatch.  I  said 
to  the  man  informing,  "  I  will  go  to  the  store  to  pay  a  small 
bill;  have  I  time?"  &c.  "Yes,  they  are  at  Palmer,  you 
will  have  ample  time."  I  went  out,  the  distance  I  had  to  go 
was  about  twenty  rods.  The  train  immediately  starts  ;  the 
conductor,  &c,  seeing  me  leave  the  car  ;  my  store  packages 
in  car.  I  called  for  the  train  to  stop,  it  being  their  practice 
for  their  ring.  Nothing  but  laugh  and  hoot.  Freman  Walker 
roaring  louder  than  the  rest,  as  report  has  it.  And  such 
a  jollification  as  that  made  in  North  Brookfield  for  a  month 
pen  cannot  describe.  That  train  due  arrived  in  less  than 
fifteen  minutes  after. 

Another.  After  my  imprisonment,  I  was  coming  up  from 
Worcester— sick,  just  able  to  move — I  dropped  asleep  in  the 
car.  The  shout,  "  Change  cars  for  North  Brookfield,"  &c, 
roused  me  ;  it  being  the  long  express  train,  I  was  helped  off 
by  passengers  at  the  freight-house.  The  conductor  mnst 
have  seen  me,  but  he  starts,  as  report  has  it,  in  two  seconds 
and  leaves  me,  the  only  passenger ;  and  then  another  ha,  ha! 
"  Miss  Hill  left  again  " — a  perfect  pow  wow.  And  Frank 
Drake  has  told,  report  says,  I  swore  so  and  so.  Reader,  I 
said  nothing,  but  asked  to  have  my  packages  put  into  one} 
as  I  was  very  sick  and  might  drop  them,  which  was  kindly 
bound  together  ;  two  men  urging  the  chances  to  carry  me 
home  for  $1.00  and  $1.50.  I  thanked  them,  and  said  "perhaps 


198 

the  foot  exercise  may  be  a  recuperative,  and  the  pleasant 
night  is  before  me.  Good  evening,  gentlemen."  The  stories 
that  the  railroad  company  sent  out  would  fill  a  volume. 

Header,  is  there  need  of  another  Christ  to  redeem  that 
Sodom  of  sin  ?  You  cannot  fail  to  see  those  seditious  beg- 
gars in  power  tramping  a  self-respecting  and  law-abiding 
woman  with  the  most  savage  cruelty  ever  known  in  a  civil- 
ized community.  I  ask  you  to  do  all  in  your  power  to  aid 
me  in  vindicating  the  five  different  legal  issues  in  this  book, 
that  the  parties  may  be  held  to  statute  law  and  justice.  As 
to  my  being  a  home-body.  The  citizens  there,  for  the 
past  few  years,  know  nothing  of  my  business,  nor  of  my 
goings  or  comings.  They  are  not  my  associates ;  I  instruct 
them  when  employed. 

The  North  Brookfidd  Nexus  has  two  attempts  at  suicide 
within  twenty  rods  of  the  three  churches  during  the  month 
of  October,  1877.  And  spiritualism  has  again  established 
itself  this  said  October,  as  in  1856,  the  time  of  the  Waldo 
notoriety.  There  were  at  this  era  of  Waldo,  a  Levi  Damon 
and  wife,  and  Calvin  Hoyt  and  wife.  Hoyt's  wife  enticed  off 
Damon,  and  they  live  together  as  husband  and  wife.  The 
forsaken  Hoyt  man  and  the  forsaken  Damon  woman  live 
together  as  husband  and  wife  in  North  Brookfield's  midst, 
in  regular  standing.     A  regular  swap. 

Big  Shop  Notables. — Patrick  Kellogg  and  wife  were 
brother  and  sister, — now  husband -and  wife;  their  father 
and  mother  being  widower  and  widow.  How  does  that 
compare  with  Fanny  Fern's  daughter  and  her  father-in-law? 

Monday  evening,  November  5th. — On  the  steamboat  for 
New  York.  The  cabin  berths  are  all  full  except  two  top  berths. 
I  stay  in  the  main  saloon  room.  The  wind  is  almost  a  gale.  As 
soon  as  it  is  light  enough  to  be  out  on  deck  I  am  there.  The 
billow's  foam  sends  forth  spray  with  savage  grandeur,  and 
the  cold,  dismal  looking  waters  are  rolling  up  dense,  black 
clouds,  enveloping  the  sky  in  the  rear  with  threatening  aspect. 
Thus  the  last  look  on  Massachusetts'  horizon  was  tempest- 
uous wind  clouds,  and  as  the  waves  headlong  plunge  and  writhe 
in  agony,  a  perfect  hell  of  waters,  tumbling  like  the  sweep  of 
destiny,  rolling  the   clouds   from   its   brink  mountain   high, 


199 

leaving  my  native  land  in  dark,  deep  oblivion.  I  walked  to 
the  side  of  the  vessel,  to  the  wheel  cabin  ;  the  waves  surge 
high,  I  bow  my  face  down  that  the  spray  may  wash  it  clean. 
It  seemed  as  if  it  was  God's  opportunity  thus  to  baptize  me 
alone  with  the  foam  of  the  billow.  And  as  I  walked  to  the 
front  of  the  deck,  the  pilot  was  pacing  rapidly,  as  if  to  keep 
from  freezing.  My  thought,  my  happiness  on  the  water,  I 
will  not  pen  in  this  book — "  Deep  calleth  unto  deep."  And 
what  are  we  that  hear  the  questions  of  that  voice  sublime  ? 
"  Yes,  what  is  all  the  riot  man  makes ;  bold  babbler,  what 
art  thou  ?" 


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